In 6 years, UP records 10,000 encounters, claims Yogi govt

The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday claimed that over 10,000 police encounters with criminals have taken place in the state in the last six years.

Meerut tops the list with the highest number of encounters, the government said. Since 2017, there have been more than 3,152 encounters in which 63 criminals were killed and 1,708 criminals were injured, the agency said.

A policeman was martyred and 401 policemen were injured during the police clashes. A total of 5,967 criminals have been arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police, it said.

When the BJP leader became the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, improving law and order in the state was one of his priorities, the government said in a press release. The government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against mafia and criminals and intensified crackdown on such elements to strengthen the state's law and order, it said.

"Due to this action by the police, a state that was once known for its poor law and order situation and mob atrocities on innocent people is now known as a criminal and fearless state not only in the country but also abroad," the statement said.