In the wake of recent encounter killings in Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Ziaur Rahman Barq has made serious allegations against the Yogi Adityanath-led state government, claiming it is deliberately targeting individuals from the Muslim, Yadav, and Other Backward Classes (OBC) communities. His statements come after two encounters took place this week, resulting in the deaths of accused criminals in Unnao and Ghazipur.
The encounters involved Anuj Pratap Singh, an accused in the Sultanpur jewellery store robbery, who was shot dead by the police in Unnao on September 23. Mangesh Yadav, another suspect in the same robbery, was killed in a separate encounter earlier this month. Additionally, Mohammad Zahid, implicated in the murder of two Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel, was gunned down in Ghazipur on September 24. These incidents have ignited a heated political controversy, with both the Samajwadi Party and Congress party labeling these encounters as “fake.”
Barq did not hold back in his condemnation, stating, “Muslims, Yadavs, and OBCs are being targeted under the BJP government. Encounters are being done based on their castes and religion. When the Samajwadi Party government comes, action will be taken against the police officers involved in the fake encounters.” His remarks resonate with a broader concern about alleged police misconduct and the politicization of law enforcement in Uttar Pradesh.
The backdrop to these encounters involves a high-profile robbery that occurred on August 28, when approximately Rs 1.5 crore worth of jewellery was stolen from Bharat Jewellers in Sultanpur. Sultanpur Superintendent of Police Somen Barma confirmed that 14 individuals were identified in connection with the robbery, with police action taken against 11 suspects, including Singh, who was involved in the violent theft.
In a related incident, RPF constables Javed Khan and Pramod Kumar were tragically killed on the night of August 19-20 while attempting to thwart a liquor smuggling operation aboard the Barmer-Guwahati Express. The smugglers allegedly assaulted the constables before throwing them off the moving train, leading to their deaths.
The spate of encounter killings has fueled allegations of state-sponsored violence and discrimination, with opposition leaders calling for accountability and reforms in law enforcement practices. As political tensions rise ahead of the upcoming elections, the Samajwadi Party is positioning itself as a defender of marginalized communities, vowing to rectify what they describe as grave injustices under the current administration.