Panel blames cops for increasing drug menace in M'lore

The Legislative Assembly Petitions Committee has found fault with the police for failing to contain the increase in use of drugs among students in colleges and schools in Mangalore city.

The committee, headed by BJP MLA Yogish Bhat of Mangalore, submitted its report to on students and public in the coastal city becoming victims to drug meance, to the Assembly on Monday.

The report said the statistics pertaining to missing women and children show the cases are increasing over the years. Sale and consumption of drugs have been found as the main reason for the increase in such cases. The use of drugs is making youths behave ugly and unruly, creating problem for others, the report said.

The police have not been able to check the use of drugs being consumed with cigarettes and gutkas. Besides, the panel suspected collusion between the police and the drug pedlars. Suggesting various measures to improve the situation, the committee said efficient officers should be posted to the Intelligence wing of the police department.

The government should also chalk out steps to rehabilitate drug addicts. The Mangalore police should conduct workshops on deaddiction for the youth. At present action is taken against those who sell more than 250 gms of illegal substances or drugs. But the committee recommends that sale of even 10 gms should attract punishment.