Politics has intensified following the encounter of Mangesh Yadav, who had a bounty of Rs 1 lakh on his head, in Sultanpur.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has questioned the legitimacy of this encounter, prompting a retort from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Meanwhile, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati criticised both the BJP and SP, labelling them as corrupt and accusing them of colluding.

Congress state chief Ajay Rai also called for a judicial investigation into the incident.

Expressing her views on the social media platform X, Mayawati wrote, “Following the encounter in Sultanpur district, the BJP and SP are trading accusations regarding law and order. Both parties are engaging in political manoeuvring under the guise of addressing crime, criminals, and caste issues. In reality, they are akin to ‘Chor chor mausere bhai’. Like the BJP, the SP government also had a deplorable record on law and order. The public has not forgotten how SP goons and mafia used to rob and assault Dalits, other backward classes, the poor, and businessmen in broad daylight.”

She continued, “Under BSP rule, law and order were truly upheld, with justice administered impartially, without caste or religious bias. No fake encounters occurred under our administration. I caution the public to be wary of the BJP and SP’s staged law and order dramas.”

UP Congress president Ajay Rai also criticised the encounter, labelling it as fake and demanding a judicial probe by a sitting High Court judge.

Rai visited Mangesh Yadav’s family in Jaunpur to offer condolences and investigate the incident.

He questioned the police’s account, pointing out inconsistencies. Rai claimed that Mangesh Yadav was allegedly taken from his home late at night and that the encounter occurred two days later, suggesting the police story was flawed.

He noted that only 10 per cent of the looted goods had been recovered, raising questions about the whereabouts of the rest.

Rai further accused the police of creating a climate of fear in the state, alleging that police actions under Yogi Adityanath’s administration have been increasingly autocratic.

He argued that either properties are demolished by bulldozers or fake encounters take place, and called for a judicial inquiry by a High Court judge to uncover the truth and hold guilty officers accountable.

Former IPS officer Amitabh Thakur also questioned the encounter, writing to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for an investigation.

He posted a photo of an STF deputy SP wearing slippers at the encounter site, expressing surprise at the perceived lack of seriousness by the police.

Akhilesh Yadav had previously raised concerns about the encounter, suggesting that the ruling party had connections with those involved in the Sultanpur robbery, and that the main accused was coerced into surrendering before the encounter.

He alleged that others were shot based on caste considerations. In response, CM Yogi Adityanath countered that the Samajwadi Party seems to oppose the killing of dacoits in police encounters.

The STF had killed Mangesh Yadav in an encounter on September 5. Yadav, who had a reward of Rs 1 lakh on his head, was accused of robbing a jeweller in Majorganj on August 28, along with four accomplices.

Jewellery worth Rs 1.5 crore was stolen during the robbery, which was captured on CCTV. During the encounter, Yadav was killed, and three other robbers were shot in the legs.