Under Yogi Adityanath’s leadership, Uttar Pradesh’s controversial encounter policy affected 70 Muslims among 233 killed in since 2017
Mohammad Alamullah | Clarion India
NEW DELHI– Since Yogi Adityanath took over as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in March 2017, the state has witnessed a sharp rise in police encounters, which the government describes as part of its zero-tolerance policy towards crime. As of December 24, 2024, 233 individuals have been killed in over 13,000 police encounters, a significant number of whom belong to the Muslim community, raising concerns about the implications of this policy on religious minorities.
Among the deceased, approximately 70 Muslims, 65 from OBCs, 21 Brahmins, and 18 Yadavs have lost their lives. The total number of those killed reflects a trend of disproportionate encounters involving Muslim victims. While police encounters have been praised by certain sections of society for curbing crime, others, especially human rights advocates and opposition leaders, have raised questions about their fairness and the targeting of specific communities.
The year 2024 saw a continuation of this controversial approach, with police conducting around 700 encounters in the first 11 months of the year alone, resulting in the deaths of 33 criminals. Among the victims was Muhammad Zahid, a gangster with alleged ties to criminal organisations, who was killed on September 23 in a joint operation by the Unnao and Ghazipur police. His death, along with the others, is part of a larger pattern that continues to shape the state’s law enforcement approach.
“Law enforcement has to act decisively. When miscreants open fire on police teams, they have to be stopped in their tracks,” said Uttar Pradesh’s Director General of Police (DGP), Prashant Kumar. Speaking about the overall strategy, Kumar stated, “CM Yogi Adityanath has made it clear from the beginning that criminals in Uttar Pradesh will either reform or leave the state.”
The Yogi government’s policy of providing complete immunity to police officers involved in encounters has fuelled debate across India. Under this policy, law enforcement agents are given extensive freedom, which they argue is necessary for tackling the rising tide of crime.
One of the most alarming aspects of the encounters is the disproportionately high number of Muslims among the dead. While police have justified their actions by citing the criminal backgrounds of those involved, many Muslim community leaders and activists believe that the encounters are being used as a tool for discrimination.
A local activist, Shahnawaz Alam, shared his concerns: “The encounters are being used to target Muslims. Many of those killed in the police encounters had no criminal record. It’s hard to ignore the fact that Muslims are bearing the brunt of this policy.”
Reports from several social groups and rights organisations indicate that Muslims, particularly from lower-income backgrounds, are overrepresented in encounters. Some of the casualties were alleged to be involved in petty crime or were falsely implicated.
“I’ve always maintained that the truth about these encounters is often distorted,” said Imtiaz Ahmed, a member of the UP-based Human Rights Association. “Muslims are often caught in the crossfire, while the state’s narrative focuses only on the criminals it wants to highlight.”
The lack of accountability and transparency in the process of police encounters has made it difficult to ascertain the authenticity of each incident. Opposition parties have called for an investigation into several high-profile cases, suggesting that some encounters may have been staged.
The opposition, led by the Samajwadi Party and Congress, has criticised the government’s encounter policy, accusing it of being discriminatory. “This is not just about crime; it’s about targeting a particular community,” said Akhilesh Yadav, the leader of the Samajwadi Party. “If encounters are so successful, why is there still so much fear and insecurity in the state. ?”
Opposition leaders argue that the policy is a political tool to create fear and unrest among Muslims, especially in the lead-up to elections. They claim that the state government is using such tactics to paint Muslims as criminals, an accusation that has sparked tension between the government and religious groups.
The BJP, however, maintains that the policies are aimed at making Uttar Pradesh a safer place for all citizens, irrespective of their religion or background. The government’s stance is that those who engage in criminal activities are subject to the same treatment under the law, regardless of their religious affiliation.
Legal experts and social activists argue that the government’s policy is inconsistent with the principles of justice and human rights. “Encounters are often a tool of legal circumvention. There is a clear need for transparency in the way these operations are carried out,” said Dr. Manisha Kumar, a law professor at Lucknow University.
The absence of a clear and transparent investigation into each encounter has led to the suspicion that some may be unjustified. In several cases, family members of those killed have demanded independent investigations. However, such calls have largely gone unheard, with many cases swiftly closed by the authorities.
The policy’s impact will likely continue to be felt long into the future, as political parties and civil rights organisations demand further scrutiny of the encounters and accountability for the police actions. For now, the fate of those who have died in these encounters—and the families left behind—remains uncertain, and the controversial question of whether this approach will truly make Uttar Pradesh a safer state remains to be seen.
