Investigating UP’s new normal: 3 encounters, 1 spot, same story?

The BJP government and its supporters see the uptick in encounters in Uttar Pradesh as part of a ruthless crackdown on crime, but families are turning to the courts to seek justice against what they say have been extrajudicial measures by the police. 

One such case involves the alleged fake encounter of Vijay Soni by the Kaushambi police in September 2023. Newslaundry found that even seven months after a lower court’s order in September 2024, no FIR has been filed against the 12 police officers involved and the matter is currently pending in the Allahabad High Court. We met Vijay Soni’s mother, Anju Devi, in the Koraon tehsil, who is the petitioner in the case.

Doubts have also been raised about the location of three separate encounters being a single spot in Kaushambi – Goonghwa Ka Bagh. 

Former police officers criticise the state government’s “shoot-at-sight” policy.

Watch.

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