Patna, Dec. 29: RJD chief Lalu Prasad is a worried man and the reason should add to chief minister Nitish Kumar's discomfiture.

Lalu's anxiety stems from the deteriorating law and order in Bihar. "Aren't you aware of the incidents taking place in the state," he quipped when asked the reason for his hurriedly convened news conference today. He went on to convey that some official postings the Nitish's government ordered need to be looked into.

" Lunj-Punj officers need to be removed," Lalu said. Asked what he meant by Lunj-Punj, he shot back: "Go consult a dictionary."

Lunj-Punj is a vernacular term meaning a person who is not dedicated or honest in his duty. Though Lalu did not spell it out, he gave enough hints.

"Do you remember a certain DGP who was present when Ranveer Sena chief Brahmeshwar Mukhiya was killed in 2012? He has retired now. He was the one who lowered the morale of the police... I suggest Nitish identify such police officers," Lalu said.

The state has seen a spate of murders, rapes, loots and bank dacoities since the Grand Alliance formed the government last month. But the recent killing of two engineers in Darbhanga, allegedly by henchmen of jailed gangster Santosh Jha, proved to be the last straw for Lalu, whose party lorded over Bihar from 1990 to 2005, a period opposition parties refer to as "jungle raj".

"This Santosh Jha and his gang indulge in murders and extortions. Several such criminals are in jail now, but their network spreads far and wide. They gave RJD a bad name and are rearing their heads again. They are in cahoots with some cops. Take such criminals out on remand, grill them for 20 days. They'll spill the beans in two minutes and we'll crush crime," he said.

He said there were many efficient and capable police officers. "They should be brought in to tackle crime. If there has been slackness in the Darbhanga probe, Nitish should throw out those cops." Lalu stopped short of blaming the Opposition. "The BJP is perturbed after losing the Assembly polls. I'm asking it not to take advantage of the situation but to help rid society of crime."

He said people should call him up if needed - he would soon publicise a landline number for this. "We have rid Bihar of rioters and fascists. We'll rid it of criminals too."

He said the government and the construction firm should compensate the kin of the slain engineers.

He also advised journalists not to speculate on who (like daughter Misa) should go to Rajya Sabha. "Leave that for me," Lalu said.