Kannada film industry in the grip of drugs, claims filmmaker-journalist Indrajit Lankesh
Bengaluru: Filmmaker and journalist Indrajit Lankesh on Saturday sparked a row by claiming that a few film actors whom he knew were severely addicted to drugs.
His claim came close on the heels of the Narcotics Control Bureau of India busting a major drug racket with a drug haul from the City with the arrest of three people-- M Anoop, R Ravindran, and Anikha D.
The NCB said the trio was supplying drugs to musicians and actors in the Kannada film industry, popularly known as Sandalwood.
"The drug network in sandalwood is far and wide, Many young actors and actresses organize rave parties. I have heard many stories and also, I know many such incidents," Lankesh told reporters on Saturday.
Lankesh even claimed that a film actor high on drugs met with an accident a few months ago in a swanky car.
He added that if the police promise him protection, he would lay bare many such facts.
His claim was quickly rebutted by many in the Kannada film industry saying that there had been liquor parties but they have never come across rave parties.
However, following the claim, police issued a statement that they would summon Lankesh to share information.
A police statement said the Bengaluru Police have been raiding a lot of drug peddlers and even detected drugs supplied through 'Dark Net.'
"Regarding statements of Indrajit Lankesh on media channels, CCB Anti Narcotics Wing is issuing notice to him to come and share information and support Bengaluru Police in this fight against drugs.
We will investigate every information that he will share," the statement said.
Lankesh found a supporter in Excise Minister H Nagesh who said the drug racket in Bengaluru is very large.
"Bengaluru drug racket is very large and what was unearthed recently is just a sample," Nagesh said in Belagavi.
The minister said the drug menace has to be controlled, otherwise innocent students and children will fall prey to it.
Reacting to Lankesh's claim, former chief minister Siddaramaiah said the sale and consumption of marijuana is a great crime.
"If marijuana is sold in the state, it is because of government failure. Those who sell and consume marijuana must be tracked and punished," the veteran Congress leader said.
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Bridge portion collapses on Jammu outskirts; 3-4 labourers feared trapped, 1 rescued
Jammu (PTI): A portion of a small bridge collapsed in the Bantalab area on the outskirts of Jammu city on Friday, trapping at least three to four labourers under the debris, while one injured worker was rescued, official sources said.
Authorities have closed the road link following the collapse of the portion of the bridge.
The incident occurred when labourers were carrying out repair work on a retaining wall near the bridge that was damaged in last year's flash floods, the sources said.
According to the sources, a section of the bridge suddenly gave way, burying workers engaged at the site under the rubble.
Police, Army and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams launched rescue operations to extricate those buried under the debris. They pulled out one injured labourer and shifted him to a hospital, the sources said.
Family members of the labourers present at the site said around six workers engaged at the site at the time of the incident came under the debris when the structure collapsed. The family members said while two of the labourers managed to escape, four got trapped.
The sources said those trapped included the husband of a woman labourer, a mason, an unmarried labourer and a relative of the contractor.
There was no official confirmation on the exact number of persons trapped under the debris till the filing of this report.
The rescue operations are ongoing.
