LUCKNOW, Nov. 7 -- With still a month and few weeks to go in 2025, Uttar Pradesh Police have gunned down 42 criminals in encounters in the first 10 months and one week of 2025-exceeding the previous high of 41 killings reported in 2018. This includes 10 notorious criminals shot dead in the past 36 days alone.

Officials say the number is likely to rise further, underscoring the state's continued zero-tolerance policy toward crime and criminals. A year-wise breakdown of encounter killings shows a fluctuating trend, with the highest number of 42 reported in 2025, followed by 41 in 2018, 34 in 2019, 28 in 2017, 26 each in 2020, 2021 and 2023, 22 in 2024, and 14 in 2022.

The latest killing that pushed the total to 42, occurred on Friday morn...