CM Yogi Flags Off Interceptor Vehicles, Honours UP Police Bravehearts
Synopsis
CM Yogi Adityanath attended a ceremony in Lucknow on October 1 to flag off new interceptor vehicles, release former DGP Prakash Singh's book 'Sangharsh', and honour the widow of Keerti Chakra martyr Sunil Kumar along with decorated UP Police personnel.
Key Takeaways
CM Yogi flagged off a new fleet of four-wheel and two-wheel interceptor vehicles equipped with modern technology for the UP Police in Lucknow on October 1, 2026 .
The book 'Sangharsh' by former UP Police DGP and Padma Shri awardee Prakash Singh was released at the event.
The wife of late Sunil Kumar , a UP STF commando awarded the Keerti Chakra posthumously , was felicitated by the Chief Minister.
Police personnel decorated with the President's Gallantry Award and the Chief Minister's Gallantry Award were also honoured.
The event combined operational modernisation with recognition of sacrifice, reflecting the Yogi government's dual policing narrative.
A Keerti Chakra widow, a book by a Padma Shri legend, and a fleet of high-tech interceptor vehicles — Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath packed a ceremony in Lucknow on Thursday, October 1, 2026 that wove together operational muscle and heartfelt tribute in equal measure.
New interceptor fleet takes to UP's roads
CM Yogi participated in the flag-off of a fresh fleet of interceptor vehicles — both four-wheelers and two-wheelers — equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance and enforcement technology, deployed under the Uttar Pradesh Police. Interceptor units are typically used for highway patrolling, real-time traffic enforcement, and rapid-response operations — a visible signal of the administration's push to modernise frontline policing across the state.
'Sangharsh' released — Prakash Singh's four-decade story in print
The ceremony also marked the launch of 'Sangharsh' ('Struggle'), a book authored by former UP Police Director General Prakash Singh, decorated with the Padma Shri. Prakash Singh is one of India's most recognised police reformers — the man behind the landmark Supreme Court case that gave the country the Police Act reform directives of 2006, mandating insulation of police from political interference. His memoir carries the weight of a career that reshaped how India debates policing accountability.
Widow of Kirthi Chakra hero Sunil Kumar honoured
The most poignant moment of the event was the felicitation of the wife of late Sunil Kumar, a UP Police STF commando who was awarded the Keerti Chakra (posthumous) — India's second-highest peacetime gallantry honour — for the supreme sacrifice he made in the line of duty. CM Yogi offered a heartfelt tribute to the martyr, calling him an 'amar balidani' (immortal martyr).
Also honoured at the event were serving police personnel decorated with the President's Gallantry Award and the Chief Minister's Gallantry Award — officers the Chief Minister described as embodying 'jan suraksha ko dhyey maan kar desh seva mein rat' — 'devoted to national service with public safety as their creed.'
Tribute and technology, together
The pairing of a modern fleet launch with a gallantry awards ceremony is deliberate political messaging — framing the Yogi government's policing agenda as both technologically forward and morally grounded in sacrifice. For the family of Sunil Kumar and the decorated officers in the room, the occasion was far more personal: a state formally saying it remembers.
As new interceptors roll out across Uttar Pradesh's highways, the men and women behind the badge — and the families who bear the cost of their courage — are the story the Chief Minister wanted told today.
Point of View
Insulating the government from criticism of being merely hardware-focused. The felicitation of Keerti Chakra martyr Sunil Kumar's widow adds a human register that formal policy announcements rarely achieve. With assembly cycles always on the horizon in UP, ceremonies that honour sacrifice and signal operational readiness tend to do significant political work.
NationPress
1 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are interceptor vehicles used for by UP Police?
Interceptor vehicles — both four-wheelers and two-wheelers — are deployed for highway patrolling, real-time traffic enforcement, and rapid response. The new fleet flagged off by CM Yogi is equipped with advanced surveillance and enforcement technology.
Who is Sunil Kumar and why was he given the Keerti Chakra?
Sunil Kumar was a commando with the UP Police Special Task Force (STF) who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. He was awarded the Keerti Chakra posthumously — India's second-highest peacetime gallantry honour — for his bravery.
Who is Prakash Singh and what is the book 'Sangharsh' about?
'Sangharsh' (meaning 'Struggle') is a book authored by Prakash Singh , former Director General of UP Police and a Padma Shri awardee. Singh is renowned for his decades-long campaign for police reforms in India, including the landmark Supreme Court directives of 2006.
What is the President's Gallantry Award for police?
The President's Gallantry Award is one of India's highest honours for police personnel, recognising acts of exceptional courage. Officers who receive it are felicitated at state-level ceremonies such as the one held in Lucknow on October 1, 2026.
Where was the UP Police interceptor vehicle flag-off ceremony held?
The flag-off ceremony was held in Lucknow , the capital of Uttar Pradesh , on Thursday, October 1, 2026 , and was attended by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
