Administration help sought to curb rising drug menace at IIT-Kanpur

KANPUR: Concerned over rise in drug menace on campus, IIT-Kanpur administration has approached the district authorities asking them to take action against drug peddlers .The institute's acting director, Manindra Agarwal, in a letter sent to district magistrate Surendra Singh, drew his attention towards drug menace prevailing on the institute's campus, and requested him to take action against drug peddlers.

"We have sought help from the district magistrate following rise in number of students getting addicted to drugs. Drugs are being supplied to them on the campus. We have come to know that students buy drugs from peddlers outside the campus therefore we have requested the DM to start a crackdown on the peddlers", Prof Manindra Agarwal said while talking to TOI.
When asked to identify the people supplying drugs or contraband items to the students on the campus, Prof Agarwal said that he was not not aware of them. Easy access of outsiders on the campus is worrisome and should be curbed, he added.

"As we do not want outsiders to have an easy access to the students hostels therefore, we have decided to provide a separate passage to the locals of Nankari and Barasirhoi villages to reach their destinations instead of passing through the main entrance of the institute. The new route for Nankari village residents has been constructed. This is how we will check entry of outsiders or those living in villages around the institute campus", he said.

Also, the outsiders through this new route will not be able reach anywhere close to hostels thus will not be able to come in contact with students, Prof Agarwalfurther said. The counselling service of the institute has been asked to identify and counsel such students who are in grip of addiction, he informed. "Hostel wardens have been asked to identify students who consume contraband items and start their de-addiction treatment," he added.

According to sources, supply of drugs to students on the campus is not new, and in the recent past there has been spurt in the number of students getting addicted to drugs. "Afeem (opium) and cocaine are in great demand besides medicines which cause intoxication", said a source. Peddling is also being done by some of those residing in the vicinity of the institute campus, the source added.