BJP leader Pooja Pal on Monday backed a police encounter in Shamli that resulted in the deaths of two primary suspects accused in the murder of Haryanvi singer and actor Ankit Baliyan, saying Uttar Pradesh does not suffer from “Jungle Raj” or “Mafia Raj” and that the state’s law-and-order situation is “very good,” according to media reports.
Political defence and official lines
Ms Pal said the state government takes strict action against perpetrators of heinous crimes and asserted that effective measures are in place to maintain public safety. Her comments came after the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) and district police carried out an operation in Shamli in which two alleged principal shooters were killed.
"One certainly cannot claim today that there is ‘Jungle Raj’ or ‘Mafia Raj’ in Uttar Pradesh. I must emphasise that when criminals take the law into their own hands and commit such heinous crimes, the BJP government ensures that strict action is taken. You have seen that the person who committed the murder was indeed eliminated in an encounter. So, I can say that the law and order situation is very good."
State Minister Dharmveer Prajapati also defended the operation, underlining that the police and government are responsible for ensuring the safety of citizens. He stressed that the police exist to deal with those creating anarchy and that protecting society is a joint responsibility of law-enforcement agencies and the administration.
Police account of the Shamli operation
Shamli Superintendent of Police Narendra Pratap Singh described the rapid mobilisation of multiple units for the case. He said the district's SWAT team, surveillance unit, all station house officers, the ASP, and circle officers were assigned to the operation.
S.P. Singh outlined security measures implemented during the early hours: a vehicle containment strategy across the district with a blockade from midnight to 6.00 AM to check movements and prevent suspects from fleeing. The police reported that around 4.00 AM the operation led to an encounter in which the two primary suspects were killed.
Immediate aftermath and operational details
- Force involved: Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force and Shamli district police.
- Timing: Blockade ordered from midnight to 6.00 AM; encounter reported around 4.00 AM.
- Objective: Apprehend principal shooters alleged to be involved in Ankit Baliyan’s murder.
The police said the containment and rapid mobilisation were aimed at preventing the movement of suspects and facilitating arrests. Further procedural steps, including forensic examinations and legal formalities, are expected to follow as per standard protocol in encounter cases.
Legal and public-safety implications
Encounters that end in the death of suspects draw scrutiny from multiple quarters, including judicial authorities, human-rights observers and the public. The state government and police framed the operation as necessary to maintain public order after a high-profile killing, while leaders highlighted the administration’s firm stance against criminality.
At the same time, encounters can prompt demands for transparent investigations, including post-mortem reports, ballistic and forensic analyses, witness statements, and probe into the sequence of events leading to the shooting. The police account of rapid mobilisation and containment will be examined alongside independent facts unearthed during investigative procedures.
| Aspect | Reported detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Shamli district, Uttar Pradesh |
| Agencies involved | UP Special Task Force, district police |
| Time window | Blockade midnight–6.00 AM; encounter around 4.00 AM |
| Victims in encounter | Two principal suspects (alleged shooters) |
Context and stakes for Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, routinely witnesses intense public scrutiny of its crime-management record. High-profile cases involving entertainers or public figures tend to escalate public concern and political debate about law enforcement methods and effectiveness.
Leaders from the ruling party have used the encounter to underscore the government’s commitment to swift action against violent crime, while law-enforcement officials emphasised operational coordination and preventive measures like roadblocks to contain suspects.
Further developments in the case — including official forensic reports, chargesheets in the original murder investigation and any independent inquiries into the encounter — will determine whether the operation is upheld as lawful and appropriate under due process standards.
Police said the containment plan and multi-unit deployment were intended to ensure no vehicle entered the district unchecked and to expedite the capture of those allegedly responsible for the singer-actor’s killing. Official confirmation on subsequent legal steps was not available in the reports reviewed.
This account is based on media reports quoting political leaders and police officials following the Shamli operation.
