(PTI)
Amid charges that most police encounters in Uttar Pradesh were “fake”, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav today accused the BJP government of misusing the police. “The BJP is misusing the Uttar Pradesh police, which is inflicting torture on the people of the state and creating fear among them. The Samajwadi Party is not only raising questions, but also telling other opposition parties that the government is continuously engaged in fake encounters,” the SP chief told reporters here.
He demanded that the government should at least provide a list of criminals carrying reward on their head to substantiate its claim that those killed by the police were highly notorious, he said. Yadav demanded Rs 50 lakh compensation to the next of kin of Narendra Gujjar, against whom, he said, a “fake cow slaughter case” was registered, and claimed that Gujjar was tortured to death in custody by the police in Meerut.
“It is the duty of the government to see that everyone gets justice. Has the situation worsened to that extent where no one can plead for justice? Will the BJP now deprive the people of the state of justice?” he posed. As many as 50 dreaded criminals have been killed in over 1,400 encounters in the past over one year in the state, while 3,435 history-sheeters were put behind bars following encounters.
