LUCKNOW, May 18 -- Uttar Pradesh Police have killed 23 alleged criminals in encounters in the first five months of 2026, bringing the total number of encounter deaths in the state to 289 since the BJP government came to power in 2017 and rolled out its "zero tolerance" law-and-order policy, according to official data released on Monday.

Senior officials, in a press note shared by the Chief Minister's media cell, said 34,253 alleged criminals have also been arrested in police encounters across the state since March 23, 2017.

According to official figures, UP Police conducted 17,043 encounter operations between March 2017 and 2026. During these operations, 11,834 accused sustained injuries, while 18 policemen were killed and 1,852 police ...