Mangesh Yadav Encounter Controversy:
Much was said but little was explained. The police narrated how the conspiracy for robbing Bharat Jewelers' shop in Sultanpur was hatched. They explained who was involved in the conspiracy and who stole the motorcycle to execute it. They also revealed how much stolen gold was recovered. Yet, they did not clarify whether Mangesh Yadav's encounter was genuine or fake? They did not detail whether Mangesh Yadav was picked up on 2nd September or not? They failed to explain how Mangesh Yadav was encountered while wearing slippers. Perhaps never before in the history of Uttar Pradesh Police has such a massive press conference been organized for a robbery case. This highlights the significance of this case.
Largest Press Conference on Robbery:
In the Lucknow Police Headquarters, everything was set—tables, chairs, and microphones. Behind the cameras, numerous crime reporters had taken their seats. Gradually, three of the top officials of Uttar Pradesh Police sat on the predetermined chairs. In the middle was Prashant Kumar, the DGP of Uttar Pradesh Police. On his left sat Amitabh Yash, the ADG Law and Order and STF Chief of Uttar Pradesh, while on his right was ADG Lucknow Zone SB Shirodkar.
DGP dodges questions on Mangesh’s encounter:
Gathering such a large assembly to answer questions about a robbery case in any state of India, including Uttar Pradesh, was rare. However, this scenario was different. The matter wasn't about the robbery but focused on the encounter of Mangesh Yadav linked to the robbery, raising questions against the Uttar Pradesh Police. Although DGP Prashant Kumar talked about everything from robberies to the state’s GDP, he didn’t provide a single satisfying answer dispelling doubts about the authenticity of Mangesh Yadav's encounter.
UP Police was fully prepared for the press conference. Numerous videos were shown during the session. One video clearly depicted five robbers at Bharat Jewelers shop in Sultanpur around 12:45 PM on 28th August. The UP Police used graphics on these images, similar to news channels, numbering the robbers from one to five and highlighting their names within circles.
DGP dodges direct answers:
This elaborate effort was to demonstrate Mangesh Yadav was indeed one of the five robbers within the showroom. However, no faces were visible in those images. Naturally, a question arose on how they could conclusively identify Mangesh. When a reporter posed this question, the DGP navigated it elsewhere, seemingly annoyed.
Mangesh’s Criminal History is a Fact:
Amidst the arising questions about Mangesh Yadav's encounter, one must remember there’s no doubt about the robbery at Bharat Jewelers in Sultanpur—it’s true. The robbers were captured on camera—this is also true. It's possible that one of the five masked robbers was Mangesh Yadav. He has eight previous cases of theft—with two incarcerations—the incontrovertible facts. However, these weren’t the pertinent questions.
Only the Encounter is in Question:
The key question was whether Mangesh Yadav's encounter was fake. Was Mangesh Yadav picked up from his home two days prior? Instead of addressing these, the press conference showed videos of Mangesh Yadav’s mother and sister, dated 3rd September, arguing these were taken when the police visited their house looking for Mangesh.
Divergent Claims Regarding Mangesh:
The statements from Mangesh Yadav’s mother and sister hold significance, as they previously claimed that Mangesh was taken from their house on the night of 2nd September by plainclothes policemen. However, in the new video released by UP Police on the 3rd, they stated Mangesh hadn't been home for the past two to three months, claiming he was in Mumbai. These conflicting claims further complicate the narrative.
Mangesh’s Dress Changed in the Video:
A discrepancy appears in the 3rd September police video. In one segment, when an officer questions Mangesh Yadav’s sister, Princey, she appears as if she was just awakened. Here, Princey is wearing a white shirt or kurta. Yet moments later, during questioning from Mangesh’s mother, Princey is seen in a round-neck T-shirt, indicating a change of clothes in between.
Police’s Robbery Narrative:
According to the highest officials in the state, the entire robbery conspiracy unfolded like this: The plan was formulated well in advance with two reconnaissance missions conducted at Bharat Jewelers. The press conference also displayed images of these recon missions, identifying the individuals involved. Despite these details, UP Police admitted Mangesh Yadav wasn’t identified in either recon mission. Yet, Mangesh’s name surfaced in connection with the theft of the two motorcycles used in the robbery.
No Clear Answer on Bike Theft:
When a reporter questioned one of the stolen bikes, asking how a report was suddenly filed eight days after the theft, the DGP again evaded a straight answer.
The Story of the Bike Stolen from Jaunpur:
Yesterday, we showcased a conversation with Naseem, whose bike was stolen on 20th August from a hospital in Jaunpur. Naseem repeatedly visited the police station and called their emergency number 112 to no avail. His theft report was only filed hours after the 28th August robbery at Bharat Jewelers.
What Could Have Been:
Had Naseem’s bike theft report been promptly filed and the hospital’s CCTV footage inspected, the robbery conspiracy might have been exposed earlier. This could have potentially prevented the robbery and the subsequent encounter of Mangesh Yadav.
Government Clarification:
It's noteworthy that the top police officers were not the only ones addressing the media regarding this robbery. Uttar Pradesh's Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak and Sultanpur’s Jewelers Association representatives also provided clarifications.
