Will the drug menace in Dakshina Kannada stop?
The drug menace in the state has grabbed a lot of headlines recently. After a reported crackdown on one of the major drug rackets in the state’s capital, several sandalwood stars are said to be under the scanner of authorities for drug abuse. But Mangaluru in Dakshina Kannada has been a hub for the peddling and circulation of drugs in Dakshina Kannada District. This has resulted in compromising the future of the youth in the district and the administration has hardly put in any major efforts to combat the drug mafia.
Although the police have been seizing a large amount of drugs and arresting accused every now and then, it has failed to catch hold of the roots of this mafia and to nab their kingpins.
Several youngsters in Dakshina Kannada District have been trapped into this dangerous nexus of the drugs which has clouded uncertainty over their future and their families have been left with nothing but despair and pain.
Despite efforts of public awareness in the district and the efforts of the police department, the nexus has only expanded its wings across the district. The police department has been issuing and publishing reports of drug seizure and arrests of the accused which in fact has been making it evident that how the nexus has expanded itself in the district.
Drugs worth 38.60 lakh Rupees seized in two months in Mangaluru:
According to the data provided by the office of Mangaluru Police Commissioner, the police department has registered 18 cases drugs peddling, smuggling, and consumption between January and August 2020. 33 people have been arrested in these 18 cases reported under Mangaluru Commissionarate this year.
The department has seized drugs worth Rs. 40,30,150 which includes 146 kg Ganja, 30.14 grams MDMA, 153 MDM pills, and other drugs.
Interestingly, more than 90% of this seizure has come in the span of the last two months i:e July and August. The department has seized drugs worth Rs. 38, 60,300 in the two months.
Asserting that the menace of drugs in universal, the Mangaluru City Police Commissioner, Vikash Kumar admitted that since Mangaluru shares its borders with neighboring states, it becomes critical to pay extra attention to these issues. He also added that the city police were working in coordination with Hassan, Udupi, and DK District Police to cap the spread and peddling of these drugs among the residents.
“But to act accordingly, we will need the support and co-operation of the people. If they have any information on drugs or related activities they should share it with us which will enable us to crack the nexus down. We never want our youth and our society get trapped into this and we will everything that we can to stop this menace” Vikash Kumar said while talking to Vartha Bharati.
Vartha Bharati has repeatedly pressed upon the need of creating wider awareness among the people against the drugs mafia. We also launched a campaign in February 2020 against the nexus which had to be put on hold after publishing the first few issues of the campaign, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic spread.
Dakshina Kannada has been one of the major targets of drugs mafia in the coastal Karnataka and they’ve been smuggling these drugs to the district from other states. Kerala, Kasargod, Goa, and Maharashtra are some of the routes through which the drugs make its way into Dakshina Kannada mostly using train routes. Once it reaches Dakshina Kannada, the local peddlers use websites, email, and WhatsApp as a means to sell, book these drugs.
Even as the School and Colleges have remained closed since March this year due to COVID-19, the police department continues to bust drug rackets, arrest peddlers, and accused which calls for a wider introspection and a comprehensive action by the district administration against the nexus.
LSD is among one of the most sought drugs among the youngsters in the district who also have access to Brown Sugar, Heroin, Cocaine, Opium, MDMA, MDS, and others. Believed to be able to change and alter the emotions of people, the lethal LSD has made its way to Dakshina Kannada and is easily available to the seekers.
Dr. Shrinivasa Undaru Bhat, Professor at KS Hegde Medical Academy’s Department of Psychiatry says that the drug industry is the second most successful and wealthy industry in the world after the weapon industry. He believes that in Mangaluru the kingpins of the drugs mafia enroll themselves or their representatives in the colleges to market the drugs.
“This I can say from the experience of dealing with the victims who come to me for treatment and deaddiction of the drugs. So finding the roots of the network becomes a challenge for the police department. We have a dedicated ward for the treatment of drug addicts, apart from this, I have also dealt with at least 500 people at my clinic over the last 12 years who were victims of this nexus.
“In the beginning the victims begin with habits like smoking, consuming alcohol, and then get addicted to drugs gradually. They say it gives them pleasure and happiness. And once they are high, they forget all their stress and they will enjoy” he said.
A victim who had fallen into the trap of this nexus spoke to Vartha Bharati and explained his ordeal.
“In a bid to enjoy the life I fell into this trap. And it took me three years to realize its consequences and to come out of this. I am now using my experience to warn young people like me against getting into this. I have been there and I know how people suffer in this. So I want to save as many people as I can from getting into this and putting their careers and futures at risk” the victim said.
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Kharge has put 'full stop' to leadership speculation in Karnataka: Minister Parameshwara
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Friday said AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge has put a "full stop" on the issue of leadership change in the state.
Kharge's statement has a lot of significance and there ends the matter for now. Everyone in the party should respect and accept this, he said.
Parameshwara was referring to Kharge's statement on Thursday that there was no chief minister change in Karnataka "for now" and that the leadership issue in the state will be resolved soon.
Kharge's statement came amid speculation within the party and political circles about a possible decision on leadership change and cabinet reshuffle after May 4, once the results for assembly elections in four states and one union territory, along with bypolls to two assembly segments in Karnataka, are announced.
"Mallikarjun Kharge is our party's national president. He has a lot of experience. Several people, including me, have said that in the case of change (in leadership), if he (Kharge) comes (as CM), no one could speak in front of his experience and everyone would accept it. While replying to it, Kharge said that there is a chief minister now, and there is no question of change as of now," Parameshwara said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "I welcome his (Kharge) statement because I feel he has expressed his opinion after a discussion involving him, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala (both AICC general secretaries). I may be right or wrong. I feel that his statement has a lot of significance. So that matter ends there for now."
Responding to a question on repeated statements by several party leaders regarding leadership change, the home minister said, what the AICC chief has said on the matter is final. It should be respected and accepted by all in the party. There is no meaning in interpreting it further.
"I cannot respond to what others say, but I can say my opinion. In my opinion, the AICC chief is the supreme authority in the party. He, along with Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, are our high command. If the high command has said something, we should both respect and accept it. There ends the matter," he said.
Kharge has put a "full stop" on the issue, he further said, adding that, "When he has said there is no change. It is a full stop."
Responding to a question on Parameshwara's recent statement about Kharge becoming chief minister, the AICC chief on Thursday said, "You (media), he (Parameshwara), and people at the top say that it is better if I become CM. But more than fate, as per my ideology and my service to the party so far, Sonia Gandhi makes decisions regarding me."
He had further said, "But that question does not arise now. There is already a CM here. If Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and I together have to take any decision in that direction, it will take some time. Let's wait and see."
Kharge on Friday too said no date has been fixed yet to discuss a possible leadership change in Karnataka.
Supporters of Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar have been insisting on his elevation in line with a reported power-sharing agreement with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah when the party won the 2023 Assembly elections. Some have even claimed that "sweet news" is expected by May 15, which is Shivakumar's birthday.
The leadership tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculation about a possible change of chief minister after the Congress government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, 2025.
The speculation has been fuelled by a reported "power-sharing" arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar at the time of government formation in 2023.
