Madhavan (name changed) was shocked into silence when the police pointed to two flowerpots on the premise of his house on the outskirts of the city. Though he is based out of Mumbai, he comes to Mangaluru often to meet his 18-year-old son, who studies in an engineering college here. His son had grown the plants by procuring seeds from a person who peddled cannabis. “The houseowner should be booked but as we did not find evidence of the father supporting this, we arrested the son for illegally growing cannabis,” said the police official who raided the house a few weeks ago.
This engineering student is among 156 people arrested in the last two months as the city police are on a drive against consumption and sale of cannabis. “We are under pressure to show we are serious (about the issue),” said another police officer, and added, “We are now instilling the fear of law among young cannabis consumers, who were so far being let off with a warning.”
Sale and consumption of cannabis and a few other narcotic drugs have been concern for residents of the city, which is known as an educational hub, with a significant number of medical, dental, engineering and nursing colleges. A majority of the consumers, the police said, are students. “A few among them have become addicts,” said a senior police officer.
Apart from sleuths from the newly created Economic Offences and Narcotic Crime Police Station, three anti-rowdy squads and Central Crime Branch sleuths have been tasked with booking cases against suppliers and consumers of cannabis.
Since October, cannabis worth ₹3.1 lakh has been recovered. In the last 15 days of November, 16 cases were booked. Two dental students, an engineering student and an engineering graduate were among the arrested for allegedly peddling lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) stamps, and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) powder and pills. The students had procured these party drugs online.
Yenepoya University Registrar G. Sreekumar Menon, former Director-General of the National Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics (the training institution for Customs and Central Excise), said the sale of cannabis and other narcotic drugs was not just a phenomenon exclusive to Mangaluru alone, but occurs across educational institutions in the State. It’s high time universities in the State came up with a uniform strategy to deal with the issue, he said. The United States, for instance, has a common policy to deal with drug menace on education campuses.
“A letter was written to the government following a meeting of the principals of colleges in Dakshina Kannada, Madikeri and Kasaragod (Kerala),” said Mr. Menon, and added that meeting with all the vice-chancellors and registrars of universities could be convened to come out with a uniform strategy.
