Making her mandate clear to the state police, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today asked them to handle rioters, murderers and dacoits with an ''iron fist''.

"You (police) should serve with responsibility and dedication. You should be a friend to those who respect law. At the same time, you should crush rioters, murderers and dacoits with an iron fist," she said at the passing out parade ceremony for sub-inspectors at the Tamil Nadu Police Academy on the city outskirts.

A total of 1,061 sub-inspectors, including 307 women officers, completed their training.
Stressing importance of training to police officers, she said, "While in service, you should remember that law was made to serve mankind. It would not be correct to follow law without observing humanity."

Observing that mercy be shown only to those who deserve, Jayalalithaa said, "you should take the hardline when your soft approach is not working. But, your being hard should remain within the limits of necessity.