New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS): Expressing concern over incidents having communal overtones, including the Dadri incident, the union home ministry on Monday directed state governments to act strictly against elements seeking to exploit religious sentiments.

Days after a man was lynched in a village in Uttar Pradesh's Dadri town for allegedly eating beef, the home ministry in an advisory issued to the states said there should be zero tolerance for any attempt to weaken the secular fabric of the country.

"While law and order is basically a state subject, the Ministry of Home Affairs has been concerned with various incidents with communal overtones across the country including the recent unfortunate incident at Dadri, Uttar Pradesh," the home ministry said.

It said there should be no exception in taking action against elements seeking to disrupt peace.

"...MHA has called on the states to take strictest action as per law against such elements without any exception whatsoever," the statement added.

The ministry had sought a report from the Uttar Pradesh government on the Dadri incident on October 1. It had also advised the state government to ensure that such incidents do not recur again.

On September 28, Mohammed Akhlaq, 50, a resident of Bisara village of Dadri in Greater Noida near Delhi, was dragged out of his home and lynched following rumours that he ate beef. The family has denied the allegations.

Akhlaq's 21-year-old son Danish was critically injured in the incident.