MEERUT: Criminals are on a surrender spree in UP following the Yogi government's instructions to district police chiefs to aggressively hunt them down. Since the new government came to office early last year, 1,240 encounters have taken place in which 40 criminals have been killed and 305 injured.The crackdown that started on March 20, 2017 has led to 2,956 arrests till February 14. Cops have also seized 169 properties worth Rs 147 crore of criminals on the run.According to data provided by the UP DGP's office, 142 wanted or criminals with rewards on their heads have surrendered either within the state or outside. Besides, 26 criminals have not secured their release despite getting bail. Seventy-one have got their bail bonds cancelled and gone back to jail."If they (criminals) are trying to go back to jails, we do not mind that because jail is only their rightful place and not outside," UP DGP OP Singh told TOI on Saturday. "The results (of the crackdown) have been unprecedented… never in the past has this kind of straight message conveyed to the criminals so clearly. They will not be allowed to play havoc with the lives of common citizens," he said.Police chiefs have been asked to prepare dossiers of all those on whom either rewards have been announced or are at large, the DGP said. "We have launched a multi-pronged attack. The number of goons against whom Gangster Act has been invoked is also biggest so far." Maange alias Vinay, main accused in a double murder case in Meerut , surrendered on February 2. Sources said a massive manhunt had scared Maange who feared he would be killed in an encounter.