Thirteen of the district’s most important police stations have Yadavs station officers or inspectors. And these are some of the most “sensitive” police stations in six out of eight susceptible constituencies of Lucknow district.

According to UP Police custom, a caste category ratio similar to the Centre’s job reservation ratio is maintained in postings of SOs/inspectors at police stations. According to norms, barring 46 per cent posts for the general category, the rest is divided along this line: 27 per cent Other Backward Castes (OBC), 21 per cent Scheduled Castes, 4 per cent for Minorities and 2 per cent Scheduled Tribes.

But postings in the state capital defy all logic — approximately 43 per cent of 37 city police stations have OBC station officers (all Yadavs). General and SC category officers stand at 43 and 5 per cent respectively.

Meanwhile, 5 per cent SOs comes from the minority category, and there is no SO from among Scheduled tribes.

Commenting on the scenario, Baba Hardeo Singh, president of UP Officers and Employees’ Confederation and a senior PCS, said any official close to the ruling party can get a desired posting in the state. The state bureaucracy now dances either to the tune of caste or money, he said.

A senior IPS officer seconded Singh’s theory: “In this state, OBC means only Yadavs. Even outside Lucknow district, most of the important and sensitive police stations are manned by Yadavs.