Sanjay Nishad, the head of the NISHAD Party and a minister from Uttar Pradesh, has called for an impartial investigation of the June 4 incident in Ghazipur and warned that the government’s encounter-driven messaging could have electoral repercussions.
In Uttar Pradesh, the June 4 encounter in Ghazipur that resulted in the death of murder suspect Kamlesh Bind has caused a political scandal that has drawn criticism from both the opposition and the ruling NDA party. The incident has rekindled discussion about the state’s well-known encounter strategy and long-standing “tough on crime” policing style under the Yogi Adityanath administration.
Political unrest has been sparked by the accusations, especially after Fisheries Minister and NISHAD Party leader Sanjay Nishad intervened. Nishad, a crucial NDA supporter, has expressed worries about due process and called for an independent investigation without directly accusing the police of misconduct. Additionally, he has cautioned that if similar occurrences continue to arouse public suspicion, the government’s harsh “thok denge” image may no longer produce electoral benefits.
Nishad questioned whether the police were going beyond their constitutional authority and called the act “inhumane.” “An accused person must be permitted to turn themselves in and defend themselves in court, regardless of the gravity of the offence. He told The Indian Express, “The police are in charge of upholding law and order and acting only in self-defence; justice is the purview of the judiciary.”
According to Nishad, a thorough investigation is required if the family’s claims that Bind was picked up in public and then killed are accurate. Nishad underlined that protecting due process and avoiding the abuse of police power were more important to him than defending criminals. He also mentioned the widespread outrage in the Bind community, pointing out that he and his party had received direct complaints.
The minister recognised that some community members were becoming increasingly uneasy and warned that disregarding these feelings could have political repercussions. “People from the neighbourhood gathered outside my home and surrounded me.” What political action may we take if the community is against us? The community’s voice must be heard,” Nishad continued.
Nishad warned that the government’s dependence on encounter-driven messaging may have limitations in a politically significant statement. He said that if concerns about justice and openness continue, the narrative of punitive justice may finally backfire. Additionally, he connected the problem to electoral results, citing the NDA’s performance in the Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha elections in 2024 and suggesting that public opinion of governance is a key factor in political outcomes. The number of NDA members fell sharply from over 60 in 2019 to 36.
Nishad requested a high-level, impartial investigation into the encounter in a letter to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath after the incident. He emphasised the need for openness to preserve public confidence in his letter, highlighting the extensive public debate and grave accusations made by the family and locals. He reiterated his need for an unbiased probe when he later met with the Chief Minister to discuss the matter in more detail.
According to the police, Bind, who is suspected of killing a hotelier’s son, opened fire when they tried to apprehend him. According to officials, he fired once more while attempting to flee, which led to retaliatory firing that struck him in the chest. After being transported to the district hospital, he passed away from his wounds. One officer was hurt in the altercation, according to the police. Locals and the deceased’s family, however, have claimed that the encounter was staged and that Bind was arrested before being killed.
Salvos are fired by the opposition
Additionally, the dispute has given the opposition new weapons. Akhilesh Yadav, the leader of the Samajwadi Party (SP), has claimed that encounters in Uttar Pradesh are selectively carried out and utilised as a means of instilling terror, especially among underprivileged people. He has called these occurrences “fake encounters” and charged that the government is undermining the justice system and constitutional values. In actuality, fictitious interactions are occurring for political reasons. The PDA group is to be intimidated and denied rights by the BJP government. In Uttar Pradesh, interactions are conducted by considering a person’s caste and religion. The head of the SP stated, “This is a sign of a failed government.
Such acts, according to Yadav, amount to a systematic attempt to influence public opinion by fear rather than administration. He asserted that police actions that are portrayed as providing immediate justice are normalising and justifying violence. He claims that the government’s strategy is an attempt to repress particular social groupings and a deterioration of democratic values.
The defence of the BJP
However, the BJP has repeatedly denied claims of encounters motivated by politics or caste. The party emphasises that law and order and public safety continue to be the government’s top priorities and that police action is severely pursued against criminals regardless of their identity. Officials contend that encounter instances are subject to legal examination and happen in reaction to armed resistance or attempts to avoid capture.
The Opposition, which has long opposed the state’s encounter policy, and an ally within the ruling coalition, who has voiced procedural and social concerns rather than outright political opposition, are the two groups simultaneously criticising the Ghazipur case, which has gained political traction despite these denials.
