BJP concerned over deteriorating law and order situation in HP

Shimla, Oct 5 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh unit of the BJP today expressed concern over the deteriorating law and other situation in the state, saying that cases of thefts, kidnappings, rapes and other criminal cases had increased during the last few years.

Cases of thefts and rapes were being recorded every second and third day following the failure of the police administration to act since the political bosses were providing shelter to criminal elements, party spokesman Randhir Sharma said in a release here.

He said since the ministers and ruling legislators were hobnobbing with the criminal elements the moral of the police has fallen following which the law and order situation has deteriorating in the state.

The Virbhadra Singh Government instead of trying to improve the situation was threatening its political opponents with false cases, he said.

Mr Sharma said the law and order situation has deteriorated to such an extent that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to the state had to be cancelled following security reasons.

Condemning the police for lodging a complaint against a Hindi daily's reporter and bureau chief for reporting that the Prime Minister's visit was called off due to security reasons, he said instead of investigating the report, it was acting against the mediapersons.

This police act proves their charge that the state government was acting like a dictator and against the principles of democracy, the BJP leader added.

UNI