Claiming that crimes involving guns and crude bombs were on the rise in Tamil Nadu, PMK chief S Ramadoss on Tuesday demanded bold steps to end the trend.

"Incidents of crime involving use of illegal guns and crude bombs are on the rise," he said, listing some incidents including murder of a lawyer last year using an illegal gun and hurling of crude bomb at the office of Minister Sellur Raju in Madurai.

Citing the arrest of a gang of illegal country made gun dealers here on March 6 and the seizure of a .22 mm gun, he said, it has led to "shock and fear."

He also alleged that the gang was involved in the illegal trade for the past several years.

"Though I have been demanding that gun culture must be ended, neither the ruling party (AIADMK), nor the previous ruling party (DMK) have done anything for it," he alleged.

Stating that the police department was capable of ending the gun culture, he said," now that the ruling party's grip has loosened on government administration, police department should take independent and bold steps," he said.