Students of prestigious private schools lured into taking drugs: Karnataka minister

MYSURU/BENGALURU: Primary and secondary education minister S Suresh Kumar on Monday claimed the students of high-profile corporate and international schools in cities are being lured by miscreants by selling ice creams and fruits laced with drugs.
Those who have been spoiling students will be dealt with an iron hand, Kumar said during his visit to Chamarajanagar on Monday.
He said the BJP had raised the issue three years ago. “Now that the party is in power, we’re determined to curb the menace by taking it to a logical end. We’ll send all those who are part of the drug mafia to jail,” he said.
Later, Kumar took to Facebook to clarify his statement. “I didn’t make the allegation against any particular school. My statement was based on observations made by some members in the legislative assembly. They had alleged that drug peddlers were active near rich private schools,” he stated.
Chief minister BS Yediyurappa said the government won’t protect anyone involved in the menace. “For the first time in the country, we’ve taken strong steps against the menace,” he said.
Home minister Basavaraj Bommai said he had directed the director general of police to go for joint operations with neighbouring states. “New evidence is emerging day by day...investigation is on, they (police) have been given free hand in the probe,” he added.
Opposition leader in the assembly Siddaramaiah said drug mafia has been active in Karnataka since many years and urged the government to bring in a legislation to uproot the menace. He also urged police to probe the link between accused actor Ragini Dwivedi and the BJP. “BJP leaders are saying Ragini had no relation with the party. But there are pictures and videos of Ragini campaigning for BJP candidates in elections,” he claimed.