Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday directed the top brass of the police to keep a strict vigil on criminals, miscreants and musclemen so that they could not perpetrate atrocities on any poor or weak person.

"The police should keep a strict watch on criminals, miscreants and muscleman and ensure that they are not able to torture any poor or weak person. The officials should take swift action whenever there is any such complaint," Kumar said.

The Chief Minister gave the directions to the police while meeting people, who had come to his official residence to assert their trust in his leadership and express their grievances. Several of them complained about musclemen encroaching on their land.

Kumar was also told about cases of youths gone missing from various areas of the state. He asked the concerned families to provide details including information about suspects to the police so that immediate action could be taken.

Some of the visitors complained about Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS) with regard to paddy procurement and non-availability of foodgrains at PDS shops, while others narrated their plight regarding demolition of their Indira Awas Yojana houses during road expansion.

Kumar asked officials to investigate into the complaints and take appropriate action. He also asked Rural Works Minister Shrawan Kumar to take steps regarding repair of rural roads.