Sultanpur Encounter | Police action impartial, was  fully based on evidence: DGP’

Addressing a press conference in Lucknow on Thursday, DGP Prashant Kumar said: “The police acted only after comprehensively examining the evidence IN the case, ensuring that all actions were conducted in a fair and transparent manner. The UP Police is making diligent efforts to enforce Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s zero-tolerance policy towards crime.”

“The UP Police is unwaveringly committed to ensuring public safety and creating a secure environment for industrial groups. This commitment should make the public and stakeholders feel secure and protected. The police have also released CCTV footage, photos, and statements from Mangesh Yadav’s mother and sister.”
DGP Prashant Kumar said that prompt police action in response to the August 28 robbery was entirely “just”.

“There is no response to political claims. I outright rebut such allegations. No action is taken considering the caste or community of a criminal. If it is found that someone has taken action for personal benefit, there are sufficient checks and balances,” Kumar said.

The DGP said rumours are being circulated that the Uttar Police are “trigger-happy”, adding, “This is totally inappropriate.”

According to the DGP, 12 people were involved in the August 28 robbery at Bharat Jewellers in Majerganj Chauk of Sultanpur. The DGP said the robbery was led by Vipin Singh. “Vipin, Furkan, and three accomplices surveyed the shop on August 13 and 15, as captured in video evidence. The motorcycle used in the robbery was stolen from Jaunpur by Mangesh Yadav, and additional accomplices were involved. The perpetrators approached the scene in two groups, and used a Bolero to flee after the crime,” he said.

Of the total accused, three identified as Sachin Singh, Pushpendra Singh, and Tribhuvan were arrested, while Mangesh Yadav was killed in an encounter with the STF.

Later, Vipin Singh surrendered in court. The police on Wednesday arrested Durgesh Pratap Singh, Vinay Shukla, Arvind Yadav alias Fauji, and Vivek Singh. The officers claimed that technical evidence played a crucial role in mapping out the sequence of events.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav reiterated his charge that the encounter was fake and accused the BJP government of making Uttar Pradesh the capital of “fake encounters”. He dubbed the deaths of crime suspects in police encounters as “deliberate murders”.

-With PTI inputs