Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 17 - The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) Thursday accused the Left government in Kerala of 'shielding criminals for their own needs' and demanded that it immediately publish the list of all criminals in the state.

Addressing reporters here after the top brass of the UDF squatted in front of the state secretariat to protest the Left government's attitude of 'shielding criminals', UDF convenor P.P. Thankachen said there should not be any delay in coming out with the list of criminals.

'When we came out with a list of criminals in 2006, in the capital district alone there were 817 criminals. Today the state government's list has a mere 372 criminals. This clearly shows that the Communist Party of India-Marxist is shielding criminals for their own needs,' said Thankachen.

'We demand that not only the government come out with a proper list of criminals but also make suitable amendments in the law so as to include those who use these criminals,' said Thankachen.

He said that in the last 12 years there were 55 instances of police stations being attacked, of which 32 cases took place after the Left government assumed office in May 2006.