Chennai, Mar 20 (UNI) The main Opposition AIADMK members staged a walk out of

the Tamil Nadu Assembly alleging deterioration of law and order in the state, on Thursday,

even as Chief Minister M K Stalin reeled out statistics saying the crime graph has been

reducing in the state and the police were dealing with the criminals with an iron hand.

After speaking on a Special Calling Attention motion over four murders that took place

in the State yesterday, the AIADMK leaders staged a walk out from the House.

Replying to the motion, Me Stalin referred to the murder of father-son duo in custody at

Sattankulam and told the AIADMK not to forget it.

Referring to the incidents of four murders that took place in the State yesterday as cited

by the AIADMK, the Chief Minister said the Coimbatore incident was a suicide, and family

dispute was said to be the reason behind the incident in Sivaganga district.

A detailed probe was on in connection with the murder that took place in Madurai.

The killing of rowdy John, while he was travelling with his wife in a car, at Erode was a

sequel to the previous enmity and the police have acted immediately by nabbing three

assailants after a shoot out.

Asserting that the police force has been functioning in a free and fair manner and taking

action against the culprits in an unbiased manner, Mr Stalin said preventive steps were

taken to control crime incidents in the state and the activities of hired and mercenary

gangs were being monitored.

Reeling out statistics, the Chief Minister said the incident of crime has been reducing every

year in the state and Goondas Act have been slapped against the offenders wherever

necessary.

He said the incidents of crime has reduced from 49,280 in 2023 to 31,438 in 2024 in the

State and 4,572 anti-social elements were detained under the Goondas Act.

"The incidents of crime has come down by 17,782 in a single year due to stringent

steps taken by the police department", the Chief Minister said, adding, the government

was devoting special attention to ensure that those involved in criminal activities

are punished as per law.

Stating that it has been wrongly portrayed in social media on some incidents of murders,

that incidents of crime were on the rise, Mr Stalin said the crime incidents has come down

by 6.8 per cent in 2024, which means that the murders have come down by 209 and the

revenge killings have also come down by 42.72 per cent.

Accusing the AIADMK of having no moral right to speak about the law and order situation

in the state, Mr Stalin reminded them not to forget the Sathankulam incident in which a

father-son duo were killed in custody in Thoothukudi district, which had created a political

furore in the State.

Admitting that incidents of crimes had been taking place, Mr Stalin said due

action has been taken on such incidents. "But like you (Mr Palaniswqmi), I did not tell

that I came to know about the incident by watching the TV (referring to the police firing

incident at Thoothukudi during the the Anti-Sterlite protests)" and blamed for walking

without having the guts to hear his reply.

UNI GV 1505