Tuesday, January 17 2006 14:03 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Facing flak from the opposition over the surge in crime, particularly kidnapping for ransom, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who stormed to power on the promise of restoring the rule of law, has summoned a high-level meeting of police officers here tomorrow (Jan 18, 2006) to discuss ways to check crime.

The Director General of Police, Additional Director Generals, all Zonal IGs, Range DIGs and SPs of all districts have been asked to attend the meeting being held in the backdrop of kidnapping of a prominent businessman and a school student from the state capital, sources in the state police headquarters told sources.

All officers have been asked to come armed with crime figures in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

The data are to be segregated on the lines of serious offences like murder, kidnapping for ransom, dacoity and naxalite violence, sources said.

Nitish Kumar, who often stressed crime control as a prerequisite for state's economic progress, is facing fire from the opposition and public disappointment over the spiralling crime graph despite the government giving a 'free hand' to the police to deal with the situation.

Kumar, who had promised to make the state 'crime-free' within three months of his coming to power, will be completing two months in office on January 24 without any signs of a downturn in the crime graph.

It will be Kumar's third review meeting with top police officers after two earlier meetings during which the DGP, ADGs and IGs posted at the police headquarters had made 'power point presentations' before the chief minister.