Is UP Becoming ‘Encounter’ Pradesh? Opposition Leaders Target BJP-Led Government, Call It ‘Jungle Raj’

Opposition leaders have raised questions about the breach of the law and order in Uttar Pradesh and demanded that the state government be dismissed after gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf were shot dead in Prayagraj.

Is UP becoming Encounter Pradesh?

The former UP CM and BSP chief Mayawati said that it would be better if the Supreme Court takes cognisance of this “extremely serious and worrisome” incident, which is being discussed across the country.

In a series of tweets, she said, “Now, instead of ‘rule of law by law’ in Uttar Pradesh, how appropriate is it that it becomes ‘encounter Pradesh’? Something to think about.”

“The shooting dead of Atiq Ahmad, who was brought from Gujarat jail and his brother Ashraf, who was brought from Bareilly jail last night in Prayagraj, in police custody, is just as heinous as the Umesh Pal murder case. It raises serious questions on the law and order of the UP government and its style of functioning,” the BSP chief added.

What about the safety of the general public?

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said crime has reached its peak in Uttar Pradesh and criminals are unfazed.

Reacting to the incident, SP president Akhilesh Yadav said in a tweet in Hindi: “Crime has reached its peak in Uttar Pradesh and the criminals are unfazed. When someone can be shot dead amidst a police cordon, then what about the safety of the general public? An atmosphere of fear is being created among the public due to this and it seems that some people are deliberately creating such an atmosphere.”

‘Jungle Raj’

Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary asked if ‘jungle raj’ prevails in the state.

“Nobody is sympathising with Atiq Ahmad because a criminal should be punished. But anyone who will see this video will question if we are a democracy. Every criminal has the right to be heard in court and be convicted there. But you can see they were killed in police custody in the open,” he said.

He further said, “The chief minister should answer what kind of law and order he has established in the state. Is this not jungle raj and ground to call for emergency rule in UP?”

Video footage showed a man thrusting a gun at Ahmed’s head as he talks to reporters and the former SP MP collapsing. The footage also showed the three assailants firing at Ahmed and Ashraf even after they had fallen.

The bullet-riddled bodies of Ahmed and Ashraf were taken away from the spot as tension gripped the area after the sensational killings.

Also Read: Owaisi Demands CM Yogi’s Resignation On Gangsters’ Killing, Says “BJP Government Has a Role In This”

Two murders in UP

In a tweet, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal said, “Two murders in UP: 1) Atiq Ahmed and brother Ashraf 2) Rule of law.”

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MP from Amroha Danish Ali said the “cold-blooded” murder of Ahmad and his brother is the “height of anarchy” in Uttar Pradesh.

“This can’t happen without a go-ahead from the top. In any other democracy the state government must have been dismissed for such a heinous crime against the rule of law,” he said in a tweet.

The three assailants who fired at Ahmad and Ashraf were arrested immediately after the incident.

In a tweet in Hindi, Uttar Pradesh minister Swatantra Dev Singh said, “Sins and virtue are accounted for in this birth…”