How The Yogi Model Of Justice Is Delivering Knock Out Punches To Criminals in UP

New Delhi: Yogi Adityanath 's approach to justice in Uttar Pradesh has garnered attention for its aggressive stance against crime. On Thursday, police shot at two prime suspects involved in the Bahraich violence while they tried to flee to Nepal. The encounter occurred in the Hada Basehari area, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Nanpara police station and is located about 15 km from Rupaidiha, a key transit point between India and Nepal. 

Following the gunfight, Republic World accessed a video showing the accused pleading with the police officers. One of them reportedly said, "Kabhi galti nahi karunga sir (I will never make any mistakes again)," highlighting the intense pressure faced by those apprehended.

This is not the first time that Yogi Adityanath and his police force have made headlines for such encounters. Since assuming office, his government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward mafias and gangsters, implementing stringent measures to deter criminal activity.  By targeting criminals and bulldozing organized crime networks, the Yogi model aims to instil confidence in citizens while sending a clear message: “Criminals are now begging for their lives”.   

List of Notable Encounters in UP under CM Yogi Adityanath

• Vikas Dubey Encounter (July 2020): Gangster Vikas Dubey was killed in an encounter in Kanpur after a police vehicle carrying him from Ujjain overturned. Following the accident, Dubey allegedly attempted to escape, prompting police to open fire. Dubey was infamous for his criminal activities and had been involved in the killing of eight police officers during a raid in Kanpur.
• Tinku Kapala Encounter (July 2020):  Tinku Kapala, a gangster with a bounty of ₹1 lakh on his head, was killed in a joint operation conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Police and the Special Task Force in Barabanki.
• Hamza Encounter (October 2021): Bangladeshi gangster Hamza was killed in an encounter with police in the Gomti Nagar area of Lucknow.
• Dacoit Gauri Yadav Encounter (October 2021): The Special Task Force (STF) of Uttar Pradesh gunned down dacoit Uday Bhan Yadav alias Gauri Yadav in an alleged encounter in Chitrakoot district in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh . Yadav was active in the ravines of UP and MP, and carried a reward of Rs 5.50 lakh — Rs 5 lakh by UP and Rs 50,000 by MP — for clues leading to his arrest.
• Moti Singh Encounter (February 2021): Moti Singh, accused of murdering a constable and injuring a sub-inspector in Kasganj, was killed in an encounter with the state police. His violent history and involvement in serious crimes led to a swift police response. The encounter served as a warning to other criminals that law enforcement was determined to restore order and ensure justice.
• Vinod Kumar Singh Encounter (September 2022): Gangster Vinod Kumar Singh, who had a bounty of ₹1 lakh, was killed in a gunfight with the Jaunpur police. This encounter highlighted the continuous efforts by law enforcement to apprehend individuals engaged in serious criminal activities. The successful operation was seen as a boost to public safety and an example of the government's zero-tolerance policy towards crime.
• Manish Singh Alias Sonu Encounter (March 2022): Manish Singh, also known as Sonu, was killed in an exchange of fire with the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (UPSTF) in Varanasi (rural). Singh, who had 32 criminal cases against him, including seven murders, was a significant threat to public safety. His death was viewed as a decisive blow to organized crime in the area, reinforcing the government's commitment to combating lawlessness.
• Asad Ahmed and Ghulam Encounter (April 2023): Asad Ahmed, the son of mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed, and Ghulam, the son of Maksudan, were killed in an encounter with the UPSTF team in Jhansi. Both had a reward of ₹5 lakh each for their involvement in the Umesh Pal murder case.
• Badaun Sajid Encounter (March 2024): Sajid, a local barber from Baba Colony in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh, was killed in an alleged police encounter after he hacked two children to death. Uttar Pradesh's Director General of Police (DGP) Prashant Kumar stated that Sajid was shot dead when he opened fire on the police team that was pursuing him.  
• Mangesh Yadav Encounter (September 2024: During a robbery incident in Sultanpur, police arrested several criminals, and Mangesh Yadav was killed in an encounter. Over two and a half kilograms of gold were recovered from the suspects. The encounter sparked a war of words between the ruling party and the opposition, highlighting the political ramifications of law enforcement actions under the Yogi government.

UP STF Eliminates 49 Criminals in Last 7 Years

According to the chief of the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF), over the past seven years, more than 7,000 criminals and individuals with bounties have been arrested. Additionally, 49 criminals have been killed in encounters.

UP STF ADG Amitabh Yash reported that a total of 7,015 notorious and wanted criminals have been apprehended during this period. Among them, 49 were killed, and all had bounties ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹5 lakh. Furthermore, the STF has prevented over 559 criminal incidents, including kidnapping, robbery, and murder.

In the past seven and a half years, the STF has also taken action to curb examination malpractices and paper leaks, aiming to eliminate them completely. The STF has acted against 926 gang leaders and facilitators from 193 gangs. Additionally, 379 cybercriminals have been arrested. The STF has also apprehended 189 criminals involved in illegal arms trafficking, recovering 2,080 illegal firearms and 8,229 illegal cartridges from them.

Moreover, the STF has taken action against illegal liquor traffickers, arresting 523 liquor smugglers from various states, including Punjab and Haryana . They have seized 80,579 bottles of alcohol, 330,866 liters of rectified spirit, and 7,560 litres of homemade liquor.