Representative image saying 'No Drugs'
Credit: iStock Photo
Mangaluru: In a bid to curb the rising menace of drug abuse, Mangaluru City Police have decided to introduce uniform guidelines and practices across all colleges within the Commissionerate limits. As part of the initiative, the police have already begun engaging with colleges to spread awareness.
The new measures are expected to be finalised in a meeting with college representatives. An awareness programme will be held as part of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on 26 June.
Commissioner of Police Sudheer Kumar Reddy said, “There is a high possibility of drug consumption in colleges, and our goal is to bring this number down to zero. Anti-drug awareness committees will be set up in all colleges, and monitoring will be a continuous process. Colleges that act responsibly will keep a close watch on students and provide counselling when needed,” he told DH.
He added that internal committees established in each institution will conduct random drug testing on a monthly basis, with a target of covering at least 50 colleges in three months. The entire process will be carried out in coordination with the Health Department, parents, and the police.
“Students involved in drug consumption will be treated as victims, and the focus will be on counselling and rehabilitation. We will also involve religious leaders to spread awareness,” the commissioner said.
In addition to colleges, private hostels, PG accommodations, and apartments housing students will also be covered under the awareness campaign. A DySP-rank officer will serve as the nodal officer, overseeing and reviewing all awareness-related activities and efforts to tackle the drug menace in educational institutions. “If students are consuming drugs due to peer pressure, we believe they can also be encouraged to quit under similar peer influence,” he felt.
On curbing the supply chain, the commissioner stated that strict instructions have been issued to all officers to take stringent action against offenders. “All major cases are being closely monitored, and officers have been trained on the provisions of the NDPS Act to ensure that those caught with significant quantities of drugs are not granted bail,” he added.
It may be recalled that Dakshina Kannada District In-charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, following a recent high-level meeting with senior police and district officials, had announced the implementation of an institutional mechanism to combat drug abuse and trafficking. He stressed the need for a proactive and coordinated approach, particularly involving educational institutions, in tackling the issue.