No law

Noida, Jan 6 (UNI) Describing the serial killings of children in Nithari village as barbaric and crueliest act possible, Congress President Sonia Gandhi said the Uttar Pradesh government had ordered a CBI probe only after pressure from her party.

''The law and order situation in the state has deteriorated to such an extent that there is no law or order worth its name and people were at the mercy of criminals.'' In her 50-minute stay here this morning, Ms Gandhi inspected the backyard of the house where the skeletal remains were found and interacted with the families of the victims.

She was accompanied by Congress leader Ashok Gehlot and senior district officials.

Later, a CPI(M) delegation led by Ms Brinda Karat also visited the village and met the families of those killed, most of whom hailed from West Bengal.

The delegation demanded that the district authorities find out the exact number of children missing in the city and bring all the guilty to book.

It also sought that the CBI probe should be time-bound and a policy should be formulated to ensure security and safety of migrant families in the national capital region.

UNI