After the encounter of Kamlesh, accused in the Vineet Rai murder case in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, the politics of encounter has once again heated up in the state. While the opposition is looking at the encounter through the lens of caste and religion, the government is calling it a part of its zero tolerance policy against crime and mafia.
At present the opposition is targeting the government regarding the Ghazipur encounter. Also, questions are being raised on this encounter by Vineet’s family and they are strongly protesting. Meanwhile, data has also come to light regarding the encounter in Yogi government.
Big encounter in Yogi Raj
Many big encounters have been conducted in the Yogi Adityanath government. In this, Vikas Dubey was killed in an encounter in Kanpur on 10 July 2020. Tinku Kapala in Barabanki on 25 July 2020, 18 October 2021 Lucknow Hamza, Asad Ahmed, son of Atiq Ahmed were encountered in Jhansi on 13 April 2023 and Anil Dujana in Meerut on 4 May 2023.
Crime graph in UP according to NCRB data
Crime 2017 2024
murder 4,324 3,215
kidnapping 19,921 11,773
Ransom 46 26
rape 4,246 3,209
Theft 60,434 43,598
Robbery 263 57
Zones with highest number of encounters (from March 2017 to May 2026)
zone encounter death injured arrested
Meerut 4813 97 3513 8921
Agra 2494 24 968 5845
Varanasi 1292 29 907 2426
Caste mathematics of encounter in UP
According to media reports, a total of 207 criminals have been killed in encounters from March 31, 2017 to September 5, 2024. In this, 67 Muslims, 20 Brahmins, 18 Thakurs, 16 Yadavs, 17 Gurjar-Jat, 14 SC, 3 ST, 2 Sikhs, 8 other OBCs and 42 people of other castes and religions have been encountered by the UP Police. This data is from 2017 to September 5, 2024. In this way, a total of 138 Hindus and 67 Muslims have been encountered.
CM Yogi’s warning
CM Yogi Adityanath A direct warning has been given to the criminals. Besides, a strict law and order message has also been given in the state. Strict action is being taken against the mafia continuously in the Yogi government. This is creating a strong image of the government. Bulldozer action, encounter, gangster action, crackdown on mafias and strict policing are being introduced to establish ‘law and order’ in UP.