Lucknow, Sept 17: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav today affirmed his government's resolve to deal with criminals with an iron hand and cautioned those taking the law in their own hands. Intervening during a discussion on the adjournment motion moved by BJP legislator Nawab Singh Nagar during zero hour, Yadav said his government would not allow anyone to take law and order in their own hands.

Nagar had raised the issue of the murder of a trader Ashok Garg in Hapur yesterday. Nagar said that anti-social elements were holding sway in western Uttar Pradesh and the manner in which Garg was killed showed that criminal activities in that part of the state were on the rise.

He claimed that some criminals had demanded Rs ten lakh as "goonda tax" from Garg and as he refused to oblige them he was shot dead. Lakshmi Kant Vajpayee (BJP), said that attacks on businessmen could scare the entrepreneurs and they might think of shifting their units outside the state.

Uttar Pradesh Minister Mohd Azam Khan said Ghaziabad Police had set up three teams to arrest the culprits and the killers would be arrested soon.

Assuring that the government would deal firmly with the criminals, Yadav announced Rs one lakh as ex-gratia to the family members of the victim.

However, the motion was rejected by the speaker Kesari Nath Tripathi. Bureau Report