Lucknow: Prashant Kumar has been assigned the role of Interim Director General of Police for Uttar Pradesh, stepping in for the outgoing Vijay Kumar, who retires today.

The appointment drew praise from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who extended congratulations to Kumar. A member of the 1990 batch of the Indian Police Service (IPS), Kumar previously served as the Director General of Law and Order in Uttar Pradesh, notably during the Pran Pratishtha of the Ayodhya Ram Temple.

Kumar's career has been marked by commendations for his unwavering dedication and commitment to duty, earning him accolades from various organizations including the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and Uttar Pradesh Police. His achievements include the DG CISF DISC in 2011, as well as Silver and Gold Disc commendations from DGs ITBP. Additionally, he has received multiple awards from DGs of UP Police, including Silver, Gold, and Platinum Disc awards. Notably, he was honored with the prestigious CMOS Service Police Medal, the Kumbh Seva Medal, and the 1st and 2nd Bars to PMG awards in 2021 and 2022 respectively.

However, the appointment of Kumar as acting DGP has faced criticism from the Samajwadi Party. Party leader Akhilesh Yadav questioned the practice of appointing acting DGPs, suggesting it might stem from conflicts between Delhi and Lucknow or from alleged ties between the government and criminals.

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