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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'Homebound' makes it to Oscar shortlist for best international feature
Mumbai (PTI): Neeraj Ghaywan's much acclaimed "Homebound" is among the 15 films shortlisted in the best international feature category at the Oscars, moving a step close to the final five nominations and maybe a win.
The movie, inspired by a true story that became the basis of a news article during the pandemic, has been creating a global buzz since its debut in the Un Certain Regard category at the Cannes Film Festival this May.
Hollywood legend Martin Scorsese is a fan and has come onboard as an executive producer ahead of the award season.
Produced by Karan Johar and Adar Poonawalla, and starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor, "Homebound" is Ghaywan's second movie after "Masaan".
"Homebound" will compete for an Oscar nomination alongside Argentina's “Belén”, Brazil's “The Secret Agent”, French drama "It Was Just an Accident”, Germany's "Sound of Falling” and Iraq's "The President's Cake".
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The other movies in the shortlist include Japan's “Kokuho”, Jordan's “All That’s Left of You”, Norway's “Sentimental Value”, Palestine's “Palestine 36”, South Korean hit “No Other Choice”, Spain's “Sirat”, "Late Shift" from Switzerland, “Left-Handed Girl”from Taiwan and Tunisian drama “The Voice of Hind Rajab”, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced in a release on Tuesday.
The award for best foreign film, now re-categorised as best international feature, has so far eluded India.
Only three Indian films have received nominations in the category -- Mehmood Khan’s “Mother India”, Mira Nair’s “Salaam Bombay” and Ashutosh Gowarikar’s “Lagaan”. Deepa Mehta’s “Water”, starring John Abraham and Lisa Ray, also received a nomination but it was submitted from Canada.
Gujarati film "Chhello Show" in 2023 was the last film to get shortlisted.
Costume designer Bhanu Athaiya was the first Indian to get an Oscar, bagging the coveted prize in 1983 for the film "Gandhi". Other than her, A R Rahman, Resul Pukootty and M M Keeravani have also won individual Oscars.
Team "Homebound" celebrated the shortlist news with posts on social media.
"We made the shortlist... Way to go team Homebound'!" Johar shared in Instagram Stories.
In a post, the producer said it was difficult for him to articulate how "proud and elated" he was with the news.
"All of us @dharmamovies are privileged to have this proud and important film in our filmography... thank you @neeraj.ghaywan for making so many dreams of ours come true... from Cannes to being on the Oscar shortlist this has been such an overwhelming journey! Love to the entire cast and crew and teams of this special special film! Upwards and onwards...."
Ghaywan also shared the news on X.
"#Homebound has been shortlisted for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards! We are deeply grateful for the extraordinary love and support we've received from around the world," he wrote on X with a special poster of the film.
Jethwa, who plays one of the two friends in the story opposite Ishaan Khatter, said the moment feels "surreal and incredibly humbling".
"To see 'Homebound' being shortlisted and progressing towards the Oscars is something I could have only dreamed of. I am deeply grateful for the love and support the film has received from audiences around the world," he said as he acknowledged Johar, Ghaywan and co-star Khatter and the rest of the team.
Khatter also shared the news on his Instagram stories and wrote, "Oscar ab dur nahi".
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"Homebound" is inspired by journalist Basharat Peer's The New York Times article “Taking Amrit Home”, also titled "A Friendship, a Pandemic and a Death Beside the Highway".
The film portrays the childhood friendship between a Muslim and Dalit who chase a police job that promises them the dignity they have long been denied due to their surnames.
The Academy on Tuesday also announced shortlists in 11 other categories, including the newly added casting Oscars, animated shorts, cinematography, documentary feature, documentary short, original score and song, sound and visual effects categories.
Nominations for the 98th Academy Awards will be announced on Thursday, January 22, 2026.
Twenty-four categories will be awarded at the 98th Oscars. Each category has five nominees, except for best picture, which has 10.
The 98th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
