Encounter killings will boomerang on BJP in Western Uttar Pradesh

On October 3, 2017, 20-year-old Sumit Gujjar, a resident of Chirchita village in Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh, was shot dead by police who claimed him to be a dreaded criminal. It was a case of mistaken identity. He was mistaken for another Sumit Gujjar, a resident of Sheeshram village, wanted in six criminal cases. Realising its mistake, police tried to cover it up and filed rape case against Sumit’s two brohers Raj Singh and Karan Singh.

National Human Rights Commission issued notices to the UP Government and UP police to respond within four weeks. Their response is yet to come.

The ghost of slain Sumit is haunting the Bharatiya Janata Party in this election. The dominant Gujjars of west Uttar Pradesh are questioning cold blooded murder of Sumit. “He was innocent and was killed in encounter because he shared a name with a criminal of that area. Sumit who was shot dead did not have any criminal cases against him,’ Karan Singh, father of Sumit said.

Karan is campaigning vigorously against fake encounters by the UP police under chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s command. Gujjars, who were BJP supporters till not so long time ago, have now turned against BJP.

Gujjars claim that Sumit was killed by police for cash reward and promotion. “Sumit was picked up by the police on September 30, 2017 from Chirchita village in Baghpat. Police asked for a bribe of Rs 3.50 lakh. When he refused we were told that Sumit will be killed in an encounter. The police announced an award of Rs 25,000 on Sumit and then increased it to Rs 50,000. We met DIG but of no avail. We used contacts in Chief Minister’s office and even called local BJP leaders for help. On October 3 SSP Greater Noida Luv Kumar said that Sumit who was wanted in several cases of robbery and extortion was killed in an encounter”, said Karan Singh.

The Gujjar maha panchayat is supporting Karan Singh’s cause. They said that their samaj is fighting this election for the `samman’ (honor) of Sumit. Encounter killings have become a major political issue in Western Uttar Pradesh. People are questioning killing of innocent persons like Sumit or of petty criminals against whom there are no serious charges.

According to official police figures, 62 criminals have been killed in encounters between March 2017 and July 15, 2018 during the rule of Yogi Adityanath. A significant number of those killed in these encounters are from four districts of western UP – Shamli, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur and Baghpat, the constituencies that will go to polls in the first phase on April 11.

The pattern of the encounters has been the same. The victims were young and undertrial. Police intercepted them in after it received a tip off. As soon as the police tried to stop them, criminals started firing. The police opens fire in self-defence. The criminal is wounded and declared dead on reaching hospital.

Vandana Misra, general secretary of People's Union for Civil Liberties, says that since Yogi has taken charge crime situation has worsened in Uttar Pradesh. Atrocities against the Dalits and the Muslims have increased. This is a political issue and will boomerang on the BJP, she said.

Director General of Police O P Singh says that law and order situation has improved as there has been a drastic fall in cases of crime under categories like murder, rape and dacoity. Cases of dacoity have come down by 37 per cent, looting 19 per cent, murder 1 per cent, burglary 13 per cent and rioting 7 per cent, kidnapping for ransom 9 per cent and rape 7 per cent.

The state police have arrested 5,677 criminals, including 2,068 reward-carrying offenders during the period, he told reporters recently.