<p>Hubballi: During the first drive of this year against suspected drug addicts, the Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissionerate performed drug consumption tests on 505 people on Friday, with 197 of them testing positive for drug consumption.</p><p>This was the fifth such operation conducted by the twin-city police in last nine months. Based on the information collected from those arrested in drug peddling cases this year, police collected the details of suspected drug addicts. Tests were performed using the drug consumption test kits at Karnataka Medical College and Research Institute (KMC-RI) in Hubballi, and Dharwad Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (DIMHANS) in Dharwad. Police have also booked a total of 46 cases.</p><p>Police said those who were tested positive for drug consumption included students, construction workers, autorickshaw drivers and salaried persons. Further investigations would be conducted to trace other drug consumers, addicts and drug peddlers.</p><p>Those who tested positive for drugs consumption were brought to RN Shetty Kalyan Mantap, where some of their parents and relatives were also called. Police informed them about the ill-effects of drugs and issued warning. A few parents shed tears. While some parents said they were not aware of the activities of their children. A few others lamented that their children continued drugs consumption even after frequent warning.</p><p>“Actions as per law are being taken in 46 drug consumption cases. The suspects were traced after an effort of one month. There is a provision to give station bail to first time consumers, and to arrest habitual consumers involved in earlier cases. Drug peddlers will be arrested and produced before the court,” said Police Commissioner N Shashi Kumar.</p><p><strong>200 FIRs</strong></p><p>Stating that more than 200 FIRs have been filed after conducting five such drives in last nine months, Shashi Kumar said more than 2,000 suspects were tested, among whom around 1,000 people tested positive for drugs consumption. Friday’s drive was conducted based on the information collected from more than 40 accused arrested in over 10 drug peddling cases, he said.</p><p>“Due to the steps taken with zero tolerance towards drugs menace, a deterrence is created and the level of courage to consume or sell drugs has come down considerablly. However, Hubballi-Dharwad having mobility connection with other states and big cities may be the reason for rampant sale and consumption of drugs. We will continue such drives to make the twin cities free from drug menace,” Shashi Kumar noted.</p><p>Regarding the efforts to trace the source of ganja coming to the twin cities, the police commissioner said ganja is entering the state from Bidar from Telangana and Maharashtra, while it is also coming from Rajasthan and Bengaluru, as per the information given by the accused in drug peddling cases. “We will conduct a thorough inquiry to check both drug peddling and drug consumption,” he said.</p><p>There is information about synthetic drugs being brought from places like Bengaluru and Kerala, he said adding that the government has also instructed to have zero tolerance towards drug menace.</p><p>Deputy Commissioners of Police Mahaning Nadaganvi, Raveesh C R, and others were present.</p>
<p>Hubballi: During the first drive of this year against suspected drug addicts, the Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissionerate performed drug consumption tests on 505 people on Friday, with 197 of them testing positive for drug consumption.</p><p>This was the fifth such operation conducted by the twin-city police in last nine months. Based on the information collected from those arrested in drug peddling cases this year, police collected the details of suspected drug addicts. Tests were performed using the drug consumption test kits at Karnataka Medical College and Research Institute (KMC-RI) in Hubballi, and Dharwad Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (DIMHANS) in Dharwad. Police have also booked a total of 46 cases.</p><p>Police said those who were tested positive for drug consumption included students, construction workers, autorickshaw drivers and salaried persons. Further investigations would be conducted to trace other drug consumers, addicts and drug peddlers.</p><p>Those who tested positive for drugs consumption were brought to RN Shetty Kalyan Mantap, where some of their parents and relatives were also called. Police informed them about the ill-effects of drugs and issued warning. A few parents shed tears. While some parents said they were not aware of the activities of their children. A few others lamented that their children continued drugs consumption even after frequent warning.</p><p>“Actions as per law are being taken in 46 drug consumption cases. The suspects were traced after an effort of one month. There is a provision to give station bail to first time consumers, and to arrest habitual consumers involved in earlier cases. Drug peddlers will be arrested and produced before the court,” said Police Commissioner N Shashi Kumar.</p><p><strong>200 FIRs</strong></p><p>Stating that more than 200 FIRs have been filed after conducting five such drives in last nine months, Shashi Kumar said more than 2,000 suspects were tested, among whom around 1,000 people tested positive for drugs consumption. Friday’s drive was conducted based on the information collected from more than 40 accused arrested in over 10 drug peddling cases, he said.</p><p>“Due to the steps taken with zero tolerance towards drugs menace, a deterrence is created and the level of courage to consume or sell drugs has come down considerablly. However, Hubballi-Dharwad having mobility connection with other states and big cities may be the reason for rampant sale and consumption of drugs. We will continue such drives to make the twin cities free from drug menace,” Shashi Kumar noted.</p><p>Regarding the efforts to trace the source of ganja coming to the twin cities, the police commissioner said ganja is entering the state from Bidar from Telangana and Maharashtra, while it is also coming from Rajasthan and Bengaluru, as per the information given by the accused in drug peddling cases. “We will conduct a thorough inquiry to check both drug peddling and drug consumption,” he said.</p><p>There is information about synthetic drugs being brought from places like Bengaluru and Kerala, he said adding that the government has also instructed to have zero tolerance towards drug menace.</p><p>Deputy Commissioners of Police Mahaning Nadaganvi, Raveesh C R, and others were present.</p>
