Opposition targets Yogi government over gangster Vikas Dubey encounter

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief, Akhilesh Yadav, tweeted, "The car has not overturned. Rather toppling of the government was prevented by not allowing the mystery to be solved."

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati has demanded an impartial Supreme Court-monitored inquiry.

Mayawati tweeted, "Besides the probe into the Kanpur police killing, the encounter of Vikas Dubey must be probed independently with the monitoring of the Supreme Court."

"This high-level investigation is also necessary so that the family of 8 policemen who were killed in the Kanpur massacre can get the right justice. Also, the nexus between the police and criminal political elements can also be identified and punished strictly. Only with such steps can UP become crime-free," the former Uttar Pradesh CM added.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra tweeted, "The culprit has died but what about the crime and the people who protected it?"

Two STF sleuths were also injured in the encounter which occurred at around 6:30 am when the vehicle in which they were travelling from Ujjain overturned due to heavy rains .

ADG Kanpur Jai Narain Singh told UNI that Vikas was killed in the encounter when he tried to flee after snatching firearms from security personnel, however, he did not furnish the details and said that it will be disclosed soon.

In the encounter, which took place 25 kilometres away from the Kanpur toll Plaza, Vikas was shot twice near the chest and waist.

The gangster was critically injured after STF shot him and was declared brought dead at the hospital, however, detailed reports are awaited.

Dubey, the mastermind of Kanpur bloodbath in which eight cops of the Uttar Pradesh Police were killed, was finally arrested on Thursday morning along with accomplices Bittu and Suresh in a comparatively low-key episode in this divisional headquarters’ Mahakal Chowki limits.