BENGALURU: After admitting that drug abuse is rampant in
Karnataka, home minister G Parameshwara on Friday said peddlers will be booked under the
Goonda Act.
Replying to a debate on the issue in the legislative assembly, Parameshwara said he will soon convene a meeting of police, health, excise and education officers and order a crackdown on peddlers. He claimed
drugs previously brought into Bengaluru are now being exported from the city. “Psychotropic drugs are being manufactured in many houses around
Bengaluru airport. I have instructed the police commissioner to take stern action,” he said.
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Research shows that 90 per cent of all addictions begin in teen and young adult years and drug addiction is usually more in areas with higher levels of inequality. Deaddiction isn’t easy — it isn’t as simple as flicking a switch — which is why tackling the problem at the supply level is important. Cracking down on dealers is precisely the way to go and kudos to the government for using provisions of the Anti-Goonda Act. But it isn’t the government’s problem alone. Parents must engender love, attention and care at home to ensure their children don't fall prey to this deadly menace
On MLAs’ demand to award death penalty to drug peddlers, the minister said the Centre should enact a comprehensive law in this regard. “Having death penalty in one or two states will not be effective,” he said.
Raising the issue in the assembly, BJP MLA R Ashok said Bengaluru is becoming a hub of drugs. “One estimate says the state has nearly 5 lakh drug addicts. Nearly a third of accidents and a fourth of suicides are due to this. In 2016, police registered 653 cases of drug abuse and peddling. That figure went up to 1,122 in 2017,” he said.
Send back overstaying foreign nationals, demands Limbavali
BJP MLA Suresh Kumar urged the government to wage a war against drugs or future generations will not excuse the lawmakers.
Blaming African nationals for the growing drug abuse in Karnataka, BJP’s Aravind Limbavali urged the government to deport those who have been overstaying their visas. The minister said police have deported 1,640 foreign nationals and he has instructed police to visit colleges and find out if foreign students are overstaying.
Limbavali urged the government to reconsider the government’s decision to allow hotels, bar and restaurants to function until 1am, which, according to him, is the main cause for many illegal activities.
Sniffer dogs
Parameshwara said that in Germany, dogs have been trained to sniff out persons on drugs even if their last dose was six months ago. He said the state’s dog squad can be trained in detection too. Limbavali sought to know why the government can’t procure such dogs if they are so helpful. “We can do that if it is necessary,” Parameshwara replied.
Parameshwara said police will soon crack down on the menace
