Chandigarh, Jan. 26 -- Expressing concern over the deteriorating law and order situation, former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Saturday said the murder of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader in Naraingarh showed that criminals were having a free run in the state.

In a statement, Hooda said that such incidents of gruesome violence in chief minister's own area reflected badly on the state's law and order situation. "Criminals are now fearless, and law and order situation has collapsed," Hooda said.

Hooda said earlier an INLD leader in Bahadurgarh and a JJP leader in Hansi were murdered in similar fashion. "More than half a dozen MLAs in the state have become victims of ransom calls. Even BJP leaders and policemen were not s...