Digital News Guru Uttar Pradesh Desk:
In a significant escalation of its ongoing crackdown on organised and violent crime, the Uttar Pradesh Police’s Special Task Force (STF) successfully killed two wanted criminals carrying cash rewards on their heads during separate encounters in Saharanpur and Bulandshahr districts overnight. Both suspects were declared killed late Saturday night, marking another forceful chapter in the state’s fight against high-profile offenders.
The police have said the cumulative bounty on these fugitives amounted to Rs 1.5 lakh, underscoring their classification as dangerous and actively pursued elements within local crime networks. Officials emphasized that these actions were based on intelligence-led operations targeting repeated offenders who posed ongoing threats to law and order.
Encounters in Saharanpur and Bulandshahr Districts
According to senior police officials, multiple units of the UP STF conducted coordinated operations after credible intelligence indicated that the suspects were attempting to evade arrest while continuing their criminal activities. In both encounters, officers reported that the criminals opened fire first, prompting police to respond with force in self-defence.
In Saharanpur, law enforcement officials pinpointed the location of one of the wanted men and moved swiftly to intercept him. During the exchange of gunfire, the suspect was fatally injured. Similarly, in Bulandshahr, a separate STF contingent engaged another criminal who was likewise carrying a significant bounty. He too was killed after resisting arrest and engaging officers with hostile gunfire.
While police have not publicly disclosed detailed identities of the slain men, they confirmed that both were long-time fugitives with multiple cases registered against them, and neither had surrendered despite numerous appeals and efforts by law enforcement.
Official Response and Law Enforcement Strategy
Additional Director General (Law & Order) Amitabh Yash reiterated that the Uttar Pradesh Police are committed to eradicating organised criminal networks that perpetuate serious offences ranging from extortion and robbery to murder and gang violence. He stated that these operations are grounded in credible intelligence and coordinated action between STF units and local police forces, and that similar efforts will continue relentlessly.
In press briefings, officials emphasized that the priority is to protect innocent citizens, especially in districts where criminal elements have historically hindered normal life through intimidation and violence. Yash noted that law enforcement has adapted its operational tactics over the past several years to respond swiftly and decisively whenever such fugitives attempt to avoid justice.
Historical Context: Encounters and Rewards in UP Policing
Encounters involving bounty-listed criminals are not unprecedented in Uttar Pradesh. Over the past five years, police records show that dozens of criminals — many with substantial rewards attached to their capture — have either been arrested or killed in similar operations. A broader review of enforcement figures indicates that UP’s intensive policing strategy includes arresting over 22,000 criminals and neutralising more than 160 in encounters where officers and suspects engaged forcibly.
In many such cases, police have placed bounties — ranging from Rs 25,000 to several lakh rupees — as incentives for information leading to an arrest. These rewards are publicised to motivate informants within communities to share timely tips with law enforcement, thereby disrupting criminal networks more effectively.
For example, a separate encounter earlier this year in Azamgarh saw a criminal carrying a Rs 50,000 bounty killed after an intense confrontation with STF and local police, illustrating that bounty listings often coincide with significant criminal records and multi-district offences.
Public Safety, Judicial Standards and Police Accountability
While many citizens have welcomed the police’s assertive approach — particularly in regions plagued by repeated incidents of violent crime — commentators and civil liberties advocates have occasionally raised concerns about encounter killings in general across India. Inherent to these concerns are questions about due process, extrajudicial actions, and whether encounters strictly adhere to legal protocols and Supreme Court guidelines.
In Uttar Pradesh, authorities maintain that all operations are conducted in compliance with legal standards and with clear documentation of circumstances leading to the use of force. The police also stress that the onus of initial criminal activity remains with the fugitives, who in these cases resisted arrest and fired upon officers, prompting necessary defensive responses.
Nonetheless, independent observers often call for transparent investigations into each encounter to ensure accountability, proper record-keeping, and review by judicial or oversight bodies when appropriate.
Impact on Crime Rates and Community Perception
The recent operations, including the deaths of the two bounty-listed criminals, are part of a broader strategy by the Uttar Pradesh government and police aimed at reducing the influence of violent gangs and reinforcing citizen confidence in public safety. Proponents of this strategy argue that swift action against high-risk offenders serves as a deterrent and reduces crime through enforcement pressure.
Local community leaders in Saharanpur and Bulandshahr have expressed a mix of relief and cautious optimism, noting that while encounter operations can prevent imminent threats, long-term peace will require sustained policing, economic opportunities, and community engagement to discourage criminal recruitment and rehabilitation. Law enforcement officials echoed this sentiment, stating that arrests, prosecutions and preventive measures will continue alongside tactical operations.
Looking Ahead: Continued Operations and Policy Focus
As Uttar Pradesh enters the final weeks of 2025, police officials have reaffirmed their commitment to tackling crime boldly and transparently. They have pledged to deepen intelligence-sharing networks, increase cooperation between STF units and local police, and pursue legal avenues to ensure that criminals — particularly those with histories of violent offense — face consequences for their actions.
The deaths of the two bounty-listed criminals in Saharanpur and Bulandshahr could therefore mark not just an isolated incident, but a continuing pattern in Uttar Pradesh’s approach to public safety — one that prioritises assertive action against entrenched criminal elements while balancing legal oversight and community welfare.
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