Snobar, TwoCircles.net
The recent death of Mangesh Yadav in a police encounter has sparked intense controversy and debate. The 24-year-old, who was allegedly involved in the August 28, 2024, robbery at Bharat Jewellers at Sultanpur, was killed by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) on September 5, 2024. While the police claim Yadav was a key participant in the robbery, his family and Opposition leaders argue that he was the victim of a staged encounter.
On August 28, Vipin Singh and his gang looted jewellery worth Rs 1.40 crore from Bharat Jewellers. The gang, armed and disguised with helmets and scarves, carried out the robbery between 12 and 1 pm. At that time, Mangesh was reportedly at his sister Princy Yadav’s school, assisting her with fee payment. Princy, a 10th-grade student, confirms that Mangesh was with her from 10 am to 1 pm.
Four days after the robbery, on September 1, the STF claimed to have encountered and killed three of the five suspects. However, reports soon revealed that these suspects had not been killed but rather shot in the legs and arrested, contradicting the encounter narrative.
On September 4, Vipin, who had surrendered in an unrelated case, was sent to jail. Despite his surrender, the STF announced that Mangesh had been killed in an encounter while allegedly firing at the police and fleeing on a stolen bike. This bike was reportedly stolen on August 20, but the theft complaint was filed only eight days later, shortly after the robbery.
According to deceased family, STF officers arrived at their home late on September 2, dressed in plain clothes and arrested Mangesh while he was asleep. The STF allegedly threatened the family, according to the deceased sister, saying, “If you tell anyone, we will shoot him in front of you.”
Fearing for Mangesh’s life, the family remained silent. On September 5, the STF killed Mangesh in an encounter, claiming he was armed and had opened fire on them.
A press conference was held by the UP police, attended by top officials including DGP Prashant Kumar, to discuss the Sultanpur robbery and the STF’s actions. The police justified the encounter, with DGP Kumar asserting that caste or other factors did not influence their operations. CCTV footage was shown, but the police only presented images of the robbers’ backs, with Mangesh identified despite his face not being visible.
However, the police did not address the events of September 2, when Mangesh was reportedly arrested from his home, raising further questions about the timeline and the police’s account of the encounter.
Political and Public Reactions
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath defended the STF’s actions, claiming the accused were armed and posed a threat. Mangesh’s family, however, maintains that he was arrested while sleeping and no weapons were found on him.
Chief Minister Adityanath’s support for the STF’s actions suggests that the encounter policy will continue under his administration.
The police’s account of Mangesh’s death has been met with suspicion. The deceased belonged to an impoverished family in Agraura village, Jaunpur, living in a makeshift mud house. The family struggles with basic necessities and lives below the poverty line.
Opposition Raises Concerns Over Encounter Policy
Samajwadi Party (SP) President Akhilesh Yadav condemned the encounter and described it as a targeted killing due to the deceased Yadav’s caste. He accused the police of sparing individuals from dominant castes while focusing on marginalised communities.
Data shows that between 2017 and 2023, 61 of 183 people killed in encounters were Muslims, 18 Brahmins, 16 Thakurs, 15 Jats and Gujjars, 14 Yadavs, 13 Dalits and 3 Adivasis. By August 2024, the number had risen to 207, with 67 involving Muslims, and the STF alone was responsible for 9 deaths between May 2023 and September 2024.
Akhilesh criticised the BJP government, suggesting that the encounter policy targets marginalised communities and perpetuates systemic discrimination. He shared a graph on X (formerly Twitter) showing that 60 percent of those killed in encounters belonged to backward classes, Dalits and minorities. He argued that the data indicates a pattern of unjust killings and criticised the BJP for undermining the truth and disregarding the rule of law.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also criticised the BJP government, stating that the encounter of Mangesh Yadav highlights the disregard for the rule of law in BJP-ruled states. He questioned whether STF encounters are part of a broader pattern of fake encounters and criticised the central government’s silence on the issue.
Former DGP Vikram Singh defended the police, suggesting that politicians often exploit situations for political gain and that police encounters are justified.
However, critics argue that the high number of encounters involving marginalised communities and the recent case of Mangesh underscore the need for greater accountability and transparency in Uttar Pradesh’s encounter policy.
‘Targeted Because of Poverty and Caste’
Virendra Yadav, general secretary of the UP Kisan Union, visited Mangesh’s home and highlighted the dire conditions faced by his family. He questioned the STF’s accountability, noting the absence of gold at Yadav’s home despite his alleged involvement in a major heist.
He suggested that the encounter may have been orchestrated to distract from a significant daylight robbery and criticised the targeting of marginalised communities based on caste and poverty.
He condemned Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s alleged derogatory statements about Muslims and Yadavs, suggesting they contribute to such incidents. He argued that the encounter reflects broader systemic issues and the need for reform in the treatment of marginalised communities by law enforcement.