Lucknow: A protest by newly recruited female constables at the 26th Battalion of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) in Gorakhpur has sparked controversy and prompted swift administrative action, including the suspension of two police officers.

The women trainees raised serious concerns about substandard living conditions, lack of privacy and alleged mistreatment by senior trainers, triggering political outrage and widespread criticism of the Yogi Adityanath-led government in Uttar Pradesh.

The protest began on Wednesday (July 23) morning, just two days after nearly 600 recruits began their nine-month training programme at the PAC training centre in Gorakhpur, the home turf of chief minister Adityanath.

Videos of the protest subsequently went viral on social media.

In these viral clips, the recruits can be seen and heard expressing anger over poor living arrangements. “If there are no adequate arrangements, why were we even called here?” one visibly distressed woman is heard saying.

Others raised concerns about a lack of private bathing facilities, while some alleged that CCTV cameras were installed near the bathroom corridors – a claim that has since been denied by officials but continues to fuel public concern.

Others accused trainers of using abusive language and said their complaints had long been ignored by senior officials.

Officers attempted to disperse the protesting women, who had gathered outside the administrative building and blocked the nearby road. The protesters were eventually directed back to their barracks.

Reacting swiftly, the Uttar Pradesh police suspended two senior officers – commandant Anand Kumar and physical training inspector Sanjay Rai – for using “inappropriate language” with the recruits. The suspensions were confirmed by top police officials.

“We acknowledge that some female recruits raised concerns about basic amenities. A technical fault led to a temporary disruption in the power supply on Tuesday, which also affected the water supply,” said inspector general Preetinder Singh to the media. “However, our inquiry found no evidence of any CCTV cameras installed inside or near the bathrooms. The allegation is baseless.”

Singh stressed the department's commitment to providing a safe and respectful environment for its female trainees. “The dignity, privacy and well-being of our women constables are a top priority. We are committed to offering them quality training and adequate facilities,” he added.

Despite the police’s assurances, opposition parties and civil rights organisations have strongly criticised the government’s handling of the situation.

Sadaf Jafar, national coordinator of the Congress, lambasted the BJP, calling the “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” campaign a hollow slogan.

“When women police trainees themselves feel unsafe and unheard, it exposes the real face of the Yogi government,” said Jafar to The Wire. “They are installing CCTV cameras near bathrooms and hurling abuses at women in uniform. Is this the dignity the BJP promises?”

The Samajwadi Party also condemned the incident, with senior leader Manoj Kaka telling The Wire that the chief minister's grand claims of building a $1 trillion economy were meaningless if basic facilities like water and electricity couldn’t be ensured at a premier training centre.

“If almost 600 women are alleging misconduct and breach of privacy, this cannot be brushed under the carpet. These women will be the future guardians of law and order in the state. The government must act decisively and transparently,” Kaka said.

Women’s rights organisations echoed similar concerns. Meena Singh, state joint secretary of the All India Progressive Women’s Association, criticised the state for merely suspending the accused without initiating legal proceedings.

“Suspending officers is a formality. An FIR should be filed. If the dignity of women can’t be protected in a police training centre, imagine the condition of women across the state,” Singh said. “Yogi Adityanath is quick to make grand statements, but when it comes to action, there is nothing concrete.”

Former Uttar Pradesh director general of police Vikram Singh called for sensitive handling of security installations and trainee welfare. “CCTV cameras should never be installed in or near bathrooms. There must be a standard operating procedure ensuring that only female officers inspect the barracks and hygiene facilities of female trainees,” he said.

However, he also advised trainees to avoid protests and instead follow the official grievance redressal mechanism. “Protests by trainees are not ideal. If they have grievances, they must report them through proper channels,” he stated.

As the uproar continues, the Yogi government faces pressure to conduct a thorough investigation and publicly release its findings.

The incident has also put a rare spotlight on the internal conditions of police training centres in Uttar Pradesh, raising broader questions about infrastructure, oversight and institutional sensitivity in state-run training facilities – particularly for women.

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