Two arrested for cow slaughter in UP encounter, state records 16,200+ encounters since 2017

Two men accused in a cow slaughter case were arrested after being injured in a police encounter in Konch on Tuesday night, officials said on Wednesday. Superintendent of Police Durgesh Kumar said the operation was carried out by the district SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) team alongside Konch Kotwali police. “When our team attempted to stop them, they opened fire with the intention to kill,” he said, adding that officers fired back in self-defence. Illegal firearms, live and spent cartridges, a motorcycle, a knife, and a cleaver were recovered from the suspects.

Cattle remains were found on January 11 near a field-side drain between Kudra Khurd and Kudra Buzurg villages under the Konch police station. A veterinary doctor examined the carcass, which was later buried with due respect. A case was registered against unidentified persons under the Uttar Pradesh Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act(article 48) , which criminalizes killing, transportation, and trade of cows, bulls, and calves, and carries strict punishments.

In Uttar Pradesh, cow slaughter cases have increasingly been treated as high-priority crimes , often attracting the deployment of specialized police units like SWAT teams , which are usually reserved for counter-terrorism, hostage situations, and other genuinely high-risk operations. While SWAT deployment in Konch was justified by police due to suspected armed resistance , critics point out that such specialized, heavily armed units should not be routinely used for enforcing cow protection laws , especially when compared with the slower and less aggressive response to other serious cases , where accused often remain at large for months or years.

SP Kumar said four police teams were formed to track the suspects using electronic surveillance and other evidence. On the Khova-Rava link road, when the two men - identified as Kalla alias Javed , 45, and Asgar alias Aggas , 46, residents of Arazi Line in Konch - were stopped, they allegedly opened fire at police, who responded in self-defence. Cases related to the encounter and recovered weapons have been registered, and further legal proceedings are underway.

Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of police encounters in India , with over 16,200 operations since 2017, resulting in hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries. In 2025 alone, 2,739 encounters were reported. Police argue these measures are part of a zero-tolerance policy, but human rights advocates and legal experts warn that encounters for cow-related cases risk normalizing extrajudicial action , especially when other serious crimes such as rape, murder, and assault receive far less urgent attention.

Observers stress that the trend of over-showing force in politically sensitive crimes is unacceptable. The use of SWAT teams and heavy firearms for cow slaughter cases, while ordinary citizens accused of violent crimes face slow or delayed legal action, undermines the rule of law and public trust in policing. Experts and activists urge that the central government should step in to ensure proportionality in law enforcement, curb political theatrics, and uphold constitutional rights for all citizens .

The Konch operation, while defended by police as self-defence, highlights the broader ethical and legal debate around how certain crimes are prioritized in UP, and the need for restraint, due process, and independent oversight.