The Uttar Pradesh Police have eliminated 289 dreaded criminals in encounters and apprehended 34,253 individuals across the state over the past nine years. According to official figures released on Sunday, the police conducted a total of 17,043 encounters since 2017. During these operations, 11,834 criminals sustained injuries, while 18 police officers lost their lives and 1,852 personnel were wounded.
Zone-Wise Breakdown of Encounters
The Meerut zone recorded the highest number of encounters at 4,813, resulting in the arrest of 8,921 criminals and injuries to 3,513. A total of 97 notorious criminals were killed in these operations. In this zone, 477 police personnel were injured and two lost their lives.
The Varanasi zone ranked second with 1,292 encounters, leading to the arrest of 2,426 criminals. At least 29 criminals were killed, and 104 policemen suffered injuries.
The Agra zone ranked third with 2,494 encounters and 5,845 arrests. At least 968 criminals were injured and 24 were gunned down. A total of 62 police personnel were injured.
At least 2,222 encounters were recorded in the Bareilly zone, in which 21 criminals were killed. In the Lucknow zone, 971 encounters led to the killing of 20 criminals.
Commissionerate-Level Data
Among police commissionerates, Ghaziabad reported the highest number of 18 criminals killed in 789 encounters. In Kanpur zone, 12 criminals were killed in 791 encounters. The Lucknow commissionerate recorded the killing of 12 criminals in 147 encounters, while Prayagraj zone reported 11 criminals killed in 643 operations.
Similarly, Agra recorded the death of 10 criminals in 489 encounters, Gautam Budh Nagar reported nine criminals killed in 1,144 encounters, and Gorakhpur zone saw eight criminals killed in 699 operations. In Varanasi commissionerate, eight criminals were neutralized in 146 encounters.
Prayagraj commissionerate reported the killing of six criminals in 150 encounters, while Kanpur commissionerate recorded four deaths in 253 operations.
Legal Actions Against Organized Crime
Officials stated that the crackdown was accompanied by strict legal action under the Gangsters Act, the National Security Act (NSA), and property attachments targeting organized crime syndicates and mafia-linked assets. These measures aim to dismantle criminal networks and deter future offenses.
