The arrest of seven higher secondary students (HSS) for possessing and using ganja at Perinthalmanna on Thursday has sent shock waves through the parent-teacher community across the State.
Sub-inspector P.S. Manjith Lal said it was only the tip of the iceberg, validating the fears of parents and teachers about school-going adolescents falling prey to drug rackets. “What we have detected is only a small part. Investigation has given us startling information about the use of drugs such as ganja by higher secondary students on several school campuses. We can’t segregate the campuses, no matter private, aided or government, in drug abuse. All are alike. The only thing is that the students don’t use it on the campus,” said Mr. Manjith Lal.
A police team led by Mr. Lal arrested Hakeem Palathingal, 20, from Perinthalmanna for supplying ganja to youngsters, including students. As much as 1.720 kg of ganja was seized from him.
The police said that the use of ganja among students had increased considerably in recent years. With the agents ready to make the drugs available, students were found to have been using innovative methods to have a taste of it.
“The news about the arrest of seven students is worrying indeed. Some shops in the school vicinity and some unused buildings and plantations are all being found to be misused by our students for drug peddling and use,” said Sayed Mohammed, a businessman at Perinthalmanna, whose son is a class 10 student.
The police team investigating the case was surprised at the reaction of the students arrested. “None of them has any remorse or regret. For them, smoking ganja is like having a fag. Some of them even said that use of ganja was not illegal in some countries. Having learned a lot about drugs such as ganja and marijuana from the Internet, the students have been shrugging it nonchalantly,” said Mr. Manjit Lal.
The police said that some sections of students displaying such a nonchalant attitude towards a serious problem such as drug abuse, it was high time that the parent-teacher community rose to address the issue in a responsible manner.
