Youths on coast high on drugs stooping to murder, blackmail

MANGALURU: Some recent crimes, including the one in which a spurned lover stabbed a girl, have led police to conclude they were committed under the influence of drugs. The huge number of seizures of drugs like ganja and cocaine in the district has one have raised concerns over rampant drug abuse in the region.
Activists say police aren’t taking enough measures. Most victims are youths especially college and school students.
Members of DYFI, who staged a protest on Friday, alleged that drug users were involved in the Puttur student gang rape case, stabbing of a student in Derlakatte and other incidents in the recent past. They alleged that many crimes in Dakshina Kannada are at the instance of drug peddlers and youths are targets.
City and district police are being tipped off by members of the public about gangs consuming ganja and creating a nuisance. The Friday phone-in by Mangaluru City Police gets such complaints every week. A few weeks ago, a caller complained about a gang of 7-8 members consuming drugs and troubling passersby in Kuloor. Another caller on Friday informed police that public places near NIT-K, Surathkal, Kulur and Krishnanagar are turning into havens for drug consumers.
Another activist pointed out that over the past few years, ganja (marijuana) was the only available illegal drug. However, over the past year, Mangaluru City Police have cracked down on sale of synthetic drugs including MDMA (Ecstasy), LSD stamps and MDM pills. A few weeks ago, sleuths of the narcotics and economic offences police station and city crime branch arrested a person with 16gm of cocaine valued at Rs 1.6 lakh. He was getting the drugs from Mumbai.
Rampant drug abuse among youngsters has been a major problem in recent times. Every year, the number of drug seizures is going north, a clear sign that drug abuse struck deep roots in the coastal districts. Activists and doctors said many youngsters in the city have fallen prey to drugs. Some in rehabilitation centres are between 18 years and 30 years.
While the widely available marijuana comes from Shivamogga, Andhra, Odisha, Ballari and Kerala, synthetic drugs come from Goa and Maharashtra. “Youngsters are the primary targets and peddlers hang around near educational institutions to sell their stuff,” said a source in the police department.
‘Crackdown under way’
We’re cracking down on substance abuse and sale of illegal drugs in the city. There have been several seizures and arrests.
— Sandeep Patil | Mangaluru City police commissioner
Crimes under influence of drugs
*Fisherman allegedly murdered by youths under the influence of ganja at Mogaveera Patna under Ullal police station limits in April, 2016
* Seven youths hacked rowdy sheeter Vamanjoor Rohi to death with lethal weapons in front of his 2-year-old child and wife on August 19, 2016
* In 2017, youths stripped and filmed their friend to blackmail him to provide money to buy marijuana
* In November 2018, seven youths gang-raped a woman in Thota Bengre
* MBA student stabbed in Derlakatte recently by drug-addled, jilted lover
Mangaluru City Commissionerate
Year — No. of cases — Arrest — Quantity (price)
2014 — 21 — 12 — 11.987kg ganja (Rs 2,04,860)
2015— 49 — 70 — 16.650kg ganja and Rs 10 lakh worth LSD (Rs 13,08,050)
2016 — 239 — 306 — 109.232kg ganja (Rs 20,54,330)
2017 — 278 — 390 — 100.514 kg ganja (Rs 34.48 lakh)
2018 — 198 — 306 — 100.727 kg ganja (Rs 20.95 lakh), cocaine 11.09 gm (Rs 74,000), MDMA crystal drug 90 gm (Rs 1.8 lakh), MDMA tablets 109.18 gm (Rs 4.5 lakh) and LSD sheet 13 (Rs 13,000)
2019 (Till May) 85 — 130 — 8.612 kg ganja (Rs 2.15 lakh), 84 MDMA (Rs 2.52 lakh), 10 drug tablet (Rs 10,000)
Dakshina Kannada district police
Year — Quantity — No. of cases
2013 — 500gm — 8
2014 — 1kg — 7
2015 — 1kg — 8
2016 — 18kg — 16
2017 — 103.6kg — 25
2018 — NA — 17
2019 — NA — 5
Source: DK district and Mangaluru City police