India, May 23 -- Bihar Police on Friday claimed that attacks on its personnel have increased amidst an intensified crackdown on criminals, forcing officers to open fire in self-defence in some cases.

Rejecting allegations that police encounters were being carried out on the basis of caste, newly appointed additional director general of police (law and order) Sudhanshu Kumar asserted that law enforcement agencies do not differentiate on caste lines.

"Police have no caste, and neither do criminals. For criminals who attack police personnel, we will not ask their caste before taking action against them to save our lives," Kumar told reporters at the police headquarters in Patna.

He said sustained action by police, including arrests, speed...