‘Uttar Pradesh Police shot 650 alleging cow smuggling; 93% Muslims’

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Police have shot and injured around 650 people accused of cattle smuggling since 2020, with Muslims accounting for 93 per cent of the victims, an investigative report by the Associated Press (AP) has found, raising serious questions about alleged police abuses and extrajudicial punishment.

The investigation, based on data provided by the Washington-based Centre for the Study of Organised Hate, found a recurring pattern in police accounts of the shootings. Officers typically claim they fired below the knees in self-defence after suspects tried to flee or opened fire at them.

Human rights activists and opposition leaders, however, allege that these incidents amount to staged encounters and punishment outside the legal system. Since the investigation examined only cases publicly disclosed by the police, activists fear the actual number of shootings could be significantly higher.

Human rights lawyer Mangala Verma warned that the practice effectively bypasses lawful investigation and trial by inflicting injuries or killing suspects in the name of immediate justice.

The Allahabad High Court has also criticised the police practice of shooting accused persons in the legs, describing it as unconstitutional and unacceptable. The court observed that some officers stage such encounters to win public praise and attract the attention of senior officials.

Uttar Pradesh Police have rejected the allegations. Senior officer Amitabh Yash maintained that weapons were used only in self-defence and attributed the high proportion of Muslim victims to the community's significant presence in the cattle trade. He said complaints would be investigated.

The AP report also highlighted the financial devastation faced by victims' families, who are left struggling after the shootings.