MP not helping in nabbing dacoits: Mulayam

Lucknow, Nov 22 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav today blamed the Madhya Pradesh government for not cooperating in curbing the menace of dacoits.

Intervening in a debate on an adjournment motion during Zero Hour, he alleged the Murena and Bhind police were not cooperating with their UP counterparts in checking dacoits, who operate in the region. He was referring to the dacoities in Etawah and Agra regions of UP.

Mr Yadav felt the ''previous Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister'' was more cooperative in curbing the menace.

Leader of the Opposition Lalji Tandon (BJP) raised the issue of the recent massacre in Sitapur in which 13 people were killed. He charged the local police with failing to take preventive measures in stopping the incident from happening.

He claimed the police failed to take appropriate action despite the knowledge that the two families involved in the incident could use firearms to settle scores.

Mr Yadav said certain lapses in the Sitapur incident had come to his notice. ''I will take action and the guilty police officials would not be spared,'' he announced.

Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Pramod Tiwari said the state police has proved itself to be inactive. Referring to the sensational Anant Gupta kidnapping case, Mr Tiwari said the contradictory statements by senior police officials have only raised eyebrows on the functioning of the force.

But, Mr Yadav gave a clean chit to the police and said the state was not facing a law and order crisis. ''Murders and kidnappings are not a law and order crisis, but a result of social evils,'' he said.

''The government is honest in providing clean governance to the people...within two days we will show our commitment in this regard,'' he added.

Meanwhile, Mr Lakshmikant Bajpai (BJP) raised the issue of students suffering from food poisioning in Meerut recently after having midday meal in the school. State Primary Education minister Kiranpal Singh assured he would get the probe concluded within three days.

UNI MB/NAB VS LS GC1735