New chief secretary says UP Govt. will deal with criminals firmly (Update/Alok Ranjan)

Assuming charge as the new Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh, Alok Ranjan on Saturday said that a message will be given out to those criminals that they will be dealt with firmly.

When asked to comment on the recent spate of criminals acts taking place in the state pertaining to rape cases as shown in television channels, Ranjan said, "I will sit with my team officials and discuss. A strong message must be given and we must solve it. Crime needs to be fought with, criminals need to know that their actions won't be forgiven and will be dealt with strongly."

He also stressed on improving the public service delivery and the GDP in the state.

"Public service delivery needs to be improved. Since this is a big state we have to see that the GDP, infrastructure and power sector is developed. We want to create a situation here in the state that it becomes an investment hot spot that will accelerate the growth," he added.

Earlier, the Akhilesh Yadav Government in Uttar Pradesh had on Saturday replaced the Chief Secretary of the state by naming Alok Ranjan as the new Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh replacing Javed Usmani.

An IAS officer of 1978 batch, Ranjan was earlier serving as Infrastructure and Industrial Development Commissioner (IIDC).

A website quoted as saying Ranjan a graduate from Delhi's prestigious St Stephen's college and MBA from IIM-Ahmedabad, Ranjan has served as agriculture production commissioner (APC) in the state.

In April last year, Ranjan was made officiating chief secretary of UP in the absence of Jawed Usmani who had accompanied chief minister Akhilesh Yadav to United States.