For UP govt, 3000 encounters, 78 kills 'achievement'

Notwithstanding attacks from the human rights groups, the Uttar Pradesh government has termed 3,000 encounters and killing of 78 criminals an "achievement."

The Yogi Adityanath government, which came out with a list of its achievements since assuming charge of the state in March 2017 on the occasion of the Republic Day, included the encounters in the list drawing flak from the Opposition parties.

According to the list, between March 2017 and July 2018, there were more than 3,000 encounters in which 78 criminals were gunned down.

"As many as 838 criminals were injured in the encounters while around 12,000 got their bails cancelled and surrendered in the court," the list said, claiming that it was proof of the improving law and order situation in the state.

The Opposition parties slammed the state government for terming the encounters an achievement.

"A majority of encounters are under question... in some cases, the National Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to the state government... even the Supreme Court has raised eyebrows on the encounters," said a senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader while speaking to DH here on Friday.

Congress leaders also echoed similar sentiments, but the BJP strongly defended the encounters.

"The government under Yogi Adityanath has been able to instil confidence among the people... the criminals are on the run," said UP BJP leader Vijay Bahadur Pathak here.

The encounters in the state have drawn flak from the human rights groups, and a petition was also fled in the apex court in this regard.