As Bahraich Encounter Comes Into Spotlight, A List Of High-Profile Encounters In UP

A look at the statistics reveals that there have been fewer encounter deaths in Yogi 2.0 than in the UP government's first stint when around 158 criminals were killed during encounters.

Days after the communal tension during a Durga Puja, two accused were shot on Thursday during an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh police. While the two men suffered gunshot injuries, three others were arrested for fomenting communal tension.

The gunfight with police has brought back the spotlight on the encounters by the Uttar Pradesh Police under the Yogi Adityanath government.

The communal violence in Bahraich has grabbed national attention as it saw violent clashes on Sunday over loud music being played outside a place of worship during a Durga Puja immersion procession.

Ram Gopal Mishra, a local who was part of the procession, died of gunshot wounds in the ensuing violence, triggering vandalism and arson in the area with mobs torching several houses, shops, showrooms, hospitals and vehicles.

But then, Uttar Pradesh isn't new to police encounters per se, though some have lingered in public memory longer than others due to varied reasons and often come under the scanner with BJP’s political rivals alleging foul play.

According to a report in PTI, there have been nearly 51 criminals gunned down since the second term of Yogi Adityanath began on March 25, 2022. 

Here's a list of some of the high-profile encounters: 

Vikas Dubey: The gangster from Kanpur was killed in an encounter on July 10, 2020, days after the killing of eight policemen, including a deputy superintendent of police, while the team was on its way to arrest Dubey in Kanpur Dehat on June 3, 2020.

According to the state police, the vehicle carrying Dubey being taken to Kanpur from Ujjain overturned after meeting an accident. The accused subsequently tried to "escape" and was shot dead, apparently in retaliatory fire by police.

Mangesh Yadav: The encounter of Yadav in Sultanpur on September 5, 2024 set off a fierce political controversy in Jaunpur. An accused in the Sultanpur robbery case, Yadav's encounter led to the opposition parties, chiefly the Samajwadi Party, accusing the police of engaging in selective 'caste' killings at the behest of the BJP government, a charge denied by the ruling party.

Anuj Pratap Singh: Shortly after Mangesh's killing, another accused in the same robbery case, Anuj Pratap Singh was also killed in a police encounter. The opposition alleged that the encounter of a "Thakur" was done to "balance" things.

Asad Ahmed: One of the prominent encounters last year was that of Asad Ahmed, the son of mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed. Asad Ahmed and Ghulam were killed in Jhansi in April 2023. The encounter of Ahmed, who carried a Rs 5 lakh reward on him, saw politicians taking differing stands with some justifying the action and others questioning it.

158 Criminals Gunned Down In Yogi's First Term

A look at the statistics reveals that there have been fewer encounter deaths in Yogi 2.0 than in the UP government's first stint when around 158 criminals were killed during encounters. However, not all of the encounters gained national attention.

Tinku Kapala, a criminal who carried a reward of Rs 1 lakh, was killed in an encounter on July 5, 2020, in Barabanki. In a similar encounter, Bangladeshi gangster Hamza was killed in an encounter in Gomtinagar, Lucknow in October 2021. Some months before, one Moti Singh, accused of murdering a police constable was also killed in a police encounter.

In March 2022, Manish Singh, who carried a reward of Rs 2 lakh, was killed in an exchange of fire with the special task force in Varanasi. Singh was wanted in 32 cases, according to PTI.

After the latest encounter in Bahraich, the opposition parties, including the Congress and the SP targeted the Yogi government in the state as they questioned the veracity of the police action. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav questioned the style of working of the state police and accused the BJP government of "ruining" the force. He said, that whenever there is an investigation, action will be taken against the guilty policemen and they will go to jail.

"This is a matter of a neighbouring district. You must know better than me that this incident (Bahraich violence) was staged," the SP chief said, pointing at the BJP without taking any names.

Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai said the authenticity of this encounter like those before this was suspected. 

BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi said Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has given a clear message that those who disturb the state's law and order will be dealt with strictly.

"Those directly or indirectly involved in the Bahraich violence and those who are conspiring to orchestrate riots will face strict action. Those who fire at police will face consequences. It will be better for those involved in the Bahraich incident to surrender before the police," he said.