Uttar Pradesh Minister and Nishad Party chief Sanjay Kumar Nishad on Friday, 5 June publicly opposed the killing of accused persons in police encounters across the state, asserting that law enforcement must not usurp the role of the judiciary. His remarks came in the backdrop of at least two recent encounter deaths linked to high-profile criminal cases in Uttar Pradesh.

The Ghazipur Murder That Triggered the Debate

Vineet Rai, son of hotelier Ajay Rai, was shot dead by four masked men in the Kotwali police station area of Ghazipur district. The victim's father had previously alleged that police inaction against an extortion racket enabled the killing, further claiming that members of the force were in 'nexus' with the gang. He had demanded encounter and bulldozer action against the accused.

The key accused in that murder case was subsequently killed in a police encounter on Wednesday night, according to reports. A separate encounter death had also occurred in the Khoda police station area of Ghaziabad, where the main accused in the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Surya Pratap Chauhan was shot dead by police.

What Nishad Said

Reacting to the Ghazipur killing, Nishad said: 'The truth will be known after the investigation. I am with the victim's family in whatever their demand is. I have always stood with society and will continue to do so.' He urged Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to order a thorough probe and ensure punishment for the perpetrators.

On the broader question of encounter deaths, the minister was unambiguous. 'Criminals do not have any caste, but it is wrong if the police start carrying out the work of the courts,' he said. He added that accused persons must be given the opportunity to surrender before any action is taken. 'If someone is accused of a crime, the person should be given an opportunity to surrender. They can surrender in court,' Nishad said.

Due Process at the Centre of His Argument

Nishad argued that the constitutionally mandated sequence — surrender, remand, interrogation, trial — must be followed. 'Let the accused surrender, then take him into remand. Interrogation can be done after that, according to the law,' he said. He questioned how an accused could surrender if the police effectively blocked that path: 'But if the police stand in front of the court, then how will the accused surrender?'

The minister was careful to clarify that he was not defending criminals. 'Criminals should definitely be punished, but after the proceedings in the court,' he said, stressing that every citizen retains the right to speak, seek justice, and be treated with respect.

Context: UP's Encounter Record Under Scrutiny

Uttar Pradesh has recorded a significant number of police encounters since 2017, a trend that has drawn both political support and civil liberties criticism. Nishad's remarks are notable because he is a minister in the Yogi Adityanath-led government, making his public dissent on encounter policy an unusual break from the ruling alliance's established posture on law enforcement. This is the first time a sitting UP cabinet minister from the ruling coalition has so explicitly questioned the encounter practice in recent memory.

As investigations into both the Ghazipur and Ghaziabad cases continue, Nishad's comments are likely to intensify the debate around police accountability and due process in the state.