An intense confrontation took place in Bahraich, UP, between police and suspects linked to local violence. Two suspects sustained leg injuries: Sarfaraz and Talim. Following the encounter, police detained five individuals. Occurring in Nanpara, near the Nepal border, the police report that they have apprehended main suspect Abdul Hamid—along with his sons Mohammed Sarfaraz, Mohammed Faheem, Mohammed Talim, and Mohammed Afzal—for the murder of Ramgopal Mishra. Political debates have emerged post-encounter, with the matter polarizing opinions between communities. As Friday prayers approach, tight security measures have been enforced in the area.
During interrogation, suspects confessed to hiding the weapon used in the murder of Ramgopal Mishra near a canal by the Nepal border. Authorities claim the encounter resulted from efforts to retrieve this weapon.
Police Assertiveness in the Encounter
The police assert that the gun was already loaded, prompting Mohammed Sarfaraz and Mohammed Talim to fire at officers as they attempted to flee to Nepal. Both ended up injured, with Sarfaraz wounded in his left leg and Talim in his right one. Despite these injuries, Sarfaraz reportedly sought forgiveness, acknowledging his mistake. So far, 13 FIRs have been registered, resulting in 57 arrests, including prime suspect Abdul Hamid.
Daughter of Abdul Hamid Levels Allegations
Rukhsar, Abdul Hamid’s daughter, claims the Special Task Force (STF) wrongfully detained her husband Osama and his brother Mohammed Shahid, suggesting a conspiracy to eliminate her family in a false encounter.
Source: aajtak
Political Debate Intensifies Over the Encounter
A slew of leaders have critiqued the encounter involving Mohammed Sarfaraz and Mohammed Talim, denouncing it as a threat to India's democracy and constitution.
Akhilesh Yadav Criticizes the Government
Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that he could discern who the encounter victims are without knowing their names. Yadav suggested that if encounters guaranteed improved law and order, Uttar Pradesh would have advanced significantly. He accused Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath of using encounters to cover governmental shortcomings.
Owaisi Condemns the Actions
AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi questioned the veracity of the encounter, highlighting CM Yogi’s infamous 'shoot them' policy. He insisted that such encounters should neither be justified nor glorified.
Danish Ali on the Rule of Law
Congress leader Kunwar Danish Ali stated that while Uttar Pradesh's alleged proficiency in staging fake encounters is apparent, the nation runs on rule of law and constitution. He stresses fairness in punishing the accused as per constitutional guidelines.
Giriraj Singh's Take on the Incident
Union Minister Giriraj Singh opined that such criminals should ideally face eradication publicly, highlighting his strict stance against crime.
Source: aajtak
Encounters from 2017 to April 2023
- Between 2017 and April 2023, under CM Yogi Adityanath’s government, there were 10,900 encounters in Uttar Pradesh, leading to 23,300 arrests. A total of 183 criminals perished in these encounters.
- Out of these, 120 were Hindu, translating to 66%, whereas 61 were Muslim, constituting 33%. This data suggests that Hindu criminals encountered outnumbered Muslim criminals significantly.
- Further categorizing the criminals, 18 were Brahmin, 16 belonged to the Thakur community, 15 were from Jat and Gujjar communities, 14 were Yadavas, 13 were Dalits, 3 were Tribals, 7 belonged to OBCs, and two were Sikhs.
Which Government Oversaw How Many Encounters?
Contrary to popular belief, reports indicate that 499 major encounters occurred between 2003 and 2007 under CM Mulayam Singh Yadav, 261 under CM Mayawati from 2007 to 2012, and 40 from 2012 to 2017 during CM Akhilesh Yadav's tenure. However, it should be noted that these numbers are derived from various media reports and are not official statistics.
