UP Police Conduct 15,726 Encounters Since 2017; 256 Criminals Killed, Nearly 32,000 Arrested

From March 2017 to October 14, 2025, UP Police conducted 15,726 encounters.
256 hardened criminals were killed, 31,960 arrested, and 10,324 injured in these operations.
18 police officers were martyred and 1,754 injured.
The drive is part of the state’s zero-tolerance crime policy, launched after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took office.
Key operations include “Mission Shakti 5.0,” under which gangster Shehzad alias Nikki was killed in Meerut.
Incidents such as firing near actress Disha Patani’s residence were also swiftly addressed.

DGP Rajeev Krishna stated: "Law will prevail, not criminals."
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s principle: "A criminal will either be in jail or out of the state."
The state government said police actions have “instilled fear among criminals and a sense of safety among citizens.”

Meerut Zone: 4,453 encounters, 85 criminals killed, 8,312 arrests, 3,131 criminals injured.
Varanasi Zone: 1,108 encounters, 27 criminals killed, 2,128 arrests, 688 injured.
Agra Zone: 2,374 encounters, 22 criminals killed, 5,631 arrests, 816 injured.
Other high-activity areas include Ghaziabad, Lucknow, and Noida.

Major crimes reduced since 2017: Murder down 26%, Dacoity down 73%.
Over ₹14,200 crore in mafia property seized; 68 mafia cases prosecuted with 31 life sentences.
Police used Gangster Act and NSA to disrupt criminal networks.

October 17-18: Rewarded criminal Nafish killed in Shamli; multiple encounters in 8 districts under “Operation Langda.”
Mission Shakti 5.0 continues to target wanted criminals.

The policy aims to establish strict law and order and make UP a “safe and fear-free state.”
NHRC and rights groups have flagged alleged fake encounter cases, citing past trends.
Accountability measures include mandatory inquiries and forensic protocols introduced in 2024.