Munde gave a pat to the Mumbai police for unearthing various financial scams involving more than Rs 2,000 crore. However, he stressed the need for speedy disposal of these cases in the court of law.

Munde strongly justified various initiatives taken during the three-year rule of the ruling Sena-BJP government to maintain law and order and tackle organised crime in Mumbai. He informed that the number of murders have reduced from 474 in 1991 to 187 in the six months till June while the attempts to murder have come down from 259 to 44 in the same period.

Cases of robbery have also fallen drastically from 1,063to 202. "Mumbai is still a safe place to stay, though there has been a spurt recently in murders due to shooting from certain gangs."

Munde also defended the deaths of about 170 criminals in police encounters and reiterated that criminals and gangsters will be dealt with firmly. He informed that he alongwith several police officials has been made party to the public interest litigations filed by human right activists challenging the killings of shooters like Sada Pawle and Amar Naik. "People who file public interest litigations should think whom they are supporting since when policemen get killed in explosions they never come to console their family members," he said.

Munde said that the anti-extortion cell headed by an officer of the rank of inspector general of police has received in all 338 complaints on phone of which 39 cases were already investigated and chargesheets have been filed in it.

Munde said that 2,200 "wanted" criminals in various cases have been arrested and chargesheeted while 218natorious criminals have been detained so far under the National Security Act.

Munde said that the massive modernisation of the police force has been undertaken and added that so far 10,000 revolvers and 2,000 carbines have been provided to the Mumbai police force whose strength is about 38,000. He added that modern vehicles, wireless sets and satellite communication have also been brought into effect in the city police force.

Mumbai commissioner of police RH Mendonca appealed to the people to approach the police and help in curbing the crimes. He requested them to participate in the "alert the police" campaign and assured that their identity will not be disclosed.

Joint commissioner of police PS Pasricha said that the website for the city police force, the first of its kind in the country, was launched recently on Internet and added that efforts would be made to introduce intranet connecting various police stations in the Greater Mumbai and elsewhere in the state.

IMC president YP Trivedi expressedserious concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the city and stressed the need for a "crime-free" Mumbai.