Lucknow, Aug. 31 -- Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Uttar Pradesh government, alleging caste-based discrimination in the state and claiming that fake encounters were carried out based on caste.

Addressing a press conference in Lucknow, Yadav targeted the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF), alleging that it was being used against sections of society.

Yadav said, "The Chief Minister's STF actually stands for 'Swajatiya Torture Force,' and the PDA (Pichhra Dalit Alpsankhyak) sections of society are facing constant persecution. Recently, a Dalit youth was killed, murdered, inside a police station in Badaun; notably, 10 out of the 22 police stations in Badaun are headed by Station House Offic...