Clamping down on drug abusers in the state has always posed a challenge to officials in Karnataka. With a large portion of the drug abusers reportedly being students, the officials appear to be constantly re-inventing their techniques.
Soon, multiple agencies including the police department and the health department, will execute an action plan formulated to deal with drug abuse, especially among the student population. The plan includes penalizing the “facilitators" of drug abuse.
The Times of India reports that hostel wardens, bar managers and owners of places where party drugs are used, will now come under the scanner. Establishments that allow drugs stand the risk of losing their licenses. A core group formed with representatives of a number of state departments will execute the action plan.
“All departments are responsible. The health department needs to stop the sale of several banned drugs by chemists, police need to enforce anti-drug laws and make more seizures, and arrests and the education department needs to put in place a system of making schools and colleges more accountable,” committee head NA Haris was quoted as saying.
Having identified the growing instances of drug abuse among the student population, places such as Bengaluru, Udupi, Mangaluru and Mysuru, will reportedly receive special attention.
For Additional director general of police (crime & technical services) Bhaskar Rao, prevention of drug abuse, rather than booking the defaulters, is of greater significance. Bengaluru City Police’s WhatsApp group with representatives from 60 educational institutions is already in place, to bring to light, instances of drug abuse among the city’s students.