Mission Shakti 5.0: UP Police eliminate 256 dreaded criminals under CM Yogi’s leadership; Meerut zone tops the state

The Uttar Pradesh Police have intensified their operations against crime as part of Mission Shakti 5.0.

Over the past 20 days, the force conducted more than a dozen encounters, neutralizing several criminals and apprehending others in half-encounters.

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On Monday, the police eliminated Shehzad alias Nikki in Meerut, who carried a bounty of ₹25,000 for a heinous crime against a minor girl. Earlier, strong action was taken against miscreants involved in firing outside actress Disha Patani’s residence in Bareilly.

Since the Yogi government assumed office, the police have maintained a zero-tolerance policy toward crime. Over the past eight and a half years: 256 hardened criminals have been eliminated in encounters; 15,726 encounters have been conducted; 31,960 criminals have been arrested and 10,324 injured. In this time period, 18 police personnel stood martyred and 1,754 injured

In zone-wise performance, Meerut Zone topped with 4,453 encounters, resulting in 8,312 arrests, 3,131 criminals injured, and 85 notorious criminals eliminated. Two police personnel were martyred and 461 injured.

Varanasi Zone ranks second with 1,108 encounters, 2,128 arrests, 27 criminals killed, 688 injured, and 99 police personnel injured. Agra Zone holds third place with 2,374 encounters, 5,631 arrests, 22 criminals killed, 816 injured, and 59 police personnel injured.

These operations reflect the state government’s commitment to maintaining law and order and ensuring the safety of citizens while taking firm action against criminal elements.

Looking at the Commissionerate-level data, the Lucknow zone recorded 846 encounters in which 17 dangerous criminals were killed. In Prayagraj zone, 572 encounters led to 10 criminals being killed. The Bareilly zone conducted 2,059 encounters, killing 17 criminals; Kanpur zone saw 717 encounters with 12 criminals killed, and Gorakhpur zone recorded 642 encounters, neutralizing eight criminals.

Among the Commissionerates, Lucknow saw 138 encounters with 12 criminals killed, Gautam Buddh Nagar reported 1,117 encounters with 9 criminals killed, Varanasi Commissionerate saw 131 encounters with 7 criminals killed, Kanpur Commissionerate recorded 234 encounters with 4 criminals killed, Agra Commissionerate reported 458 encounters with 7 criminals killed, Ghaziabad Commissionerate reported 736 encounters and 13 criminals eliminated, while Prayagraj Commissionerate reported 141 encounters with 6 criminals killed.

Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in the past eight and a half years, the UP Police have effectively implemented the principle: “A criminal will either be in jail or out of the state.” This has instilled fear among criminals and a sense of safety among citizens. As a result, Uttar Pradesh’s law and order situation has been widely praised at the national level.

Following the UP Government’s policy, the police have struck hard against organized crime, mafia networks, and illegal extortion. In addition to the encounters, actions such as property seizures, cases under the Gangster Act, and the enforcement of stringent laws like the NSA (National Security Act) have been carried out effectively.

Under the zero-tolerance policy against crime and criminals, this eight-and-a-half-year-long campaign against criminals has not only yielded statistical success but also established the rule of law on the ground. The police’s swift, firm, and courageous actions have forced many criminals to leave the state, and Uttar Pradesh is now strengthening its identity as a safe and fear-free state.