New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is ready with his Special Security Force that is set to tackle the law and order situation in the state especially in high traffic areas such as the court and airports. The project, constituted by CM Adityanath, is on the basis of orders from Allahabad High Court. ALSO READ| Umar Khalid Arrested! Activists, Lawyers, Others Condemn Act; Call It 'Political Wich-Hunt' Against Former JNU Student

What is UPSSF? 

The Uttar Pradesh Special Security Force is a new security force that has been formed by the state government. It has been formed in the lines of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

Why was the UPSSF formed?

The decision to form a special force was taken after a series of horrific incidents occurred in the courts of the state. A report by PTI says that on December 17, 2019, three assailants had opened fire in the court of the Bijnor chief judicial magistrate, killing a murder accused and injuring two policemen and a court employee.

A similar incident had happened in Muzaffarnagar court when an armed man dressed as a lawyer entered the courtroom and shot the alleged gangster, Vicky Tyagi.

Chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh Bar Council, Darvesh Kumari Yadav, 36, was also shot dead by a colleague in her chamber on the civil court premises in Agra on June 13, 2019.

The  Allahabad High Court then directed the constitution of a special force. A report by PTI said that a two-judge HC bench said that most incompetent police personnel are being posted at the courts, adding that it will seek the deployment of central forces if the state government is not up to the task.

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How is UPSSF different?

i. The UPSSF will have the power to arrest without any warrant. Members of this force will also be able to arrest any person without the orders of a magistrate or a warrant. This is could become a thorny issue with the opposition.

ii. Even the court cannot take cognizance against the force without any approval from the government. Initially, five battalions of UPSSF will be formed.

iii. The SSF will guard court, bank, metro rail, and airports. During a press conference, The Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi said, "Airports, court, and metro are all sensitive areas and to tackle these sensitive targets we are they have given special powers to the Force." The force is being constituted on the lines of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

iv. Private companies can also avail of the services of the UPSSF on payment. The Force will have UPSSf will have 9,919 personnel which includes the officials and jawans

v. The headquarters of the UPSSF will be in Lucknow and an ADG-level officer will head the force. Annually Rs 1,747 crore will be spent on the force.