Lucknow, Oct. 12 -- Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday alleged that rape cases and atrocities against women have witnessed an increase as the "police are being used for political purposes" under the Yogi Adiyanth-led BJP goverment in Uttar Pradesh

Yadav's latest attack came while responding to reporters on the alleged gangrape of a student in Lucknow. He did not agree with the policy of police shooting at the legs of miscreants during encounters.

"This isn't the first case under this government. Rape cases and atrocities against women are on the rise, and the number of incidents is increasing because the police are being used for political purposes. The BJP is not allowing the police to do their jobs. Encounter cannot b...