Karnataka to examine 2012 panel report for crackdown on drug menace
Bengaluru: As the police continue their crackdown against drug and substance abuse in the state, the Karnataka government has decided to examine an eight-year-old legislative committee report on tackling the menace.
Home Minister Basavarj Bommai has asked a top bureaucrat to examine the report tabled in 2012 by the assembly's petitions committee, headed by the then Deputy Speaker N Yogish Bhat.
"The report that was given by Yogish Bhat, I have asked the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) to examine it thoroughly. The contents of the report, suggestions made in it to control drugs- it will be thoroughly examined and measures that can be implemented from it, will be looked into," Bommai said.
Speaking to reporters, he said efforts were on to control drug menace, including controlling it scientifically, using technology.
"It is not only a menace in Karnataka, but across the country, so all necessary efforts will be made to control it from all angles, and our crackdown on drugs will continue," he added.
The 2012 committee report focused on drug menace in educational institutions and students falling prey to it besides nexus between the drug mafia and prostitution racket.
With the state going to the assembly polls in 2013 and the new government taking over, the report was forgotten.
The minister said from the ongoing operation it was clear that the drugs were coming into Karnataka from other states and countries.
Bommai said he has held a meeting via video conference with SPs of all the districts, especially border ones, regarding the measures being taken and to be taken.
The meeting also discussed about drugs coming from foreign countries and from cities like Mumbai and Delhi though various modes which needed to be controlled and investigated.
"Drug supplies through cargo, courier, post, dark web need to be completely controlled," the minister said.
The recent arrests made by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had unearthed alleged links of drug peddlers with Kannada actors and musicians, which the CCB police are currently investigating, and it has led to more arrests.
Asked about the arrest of Kannada actress Ragini Dwivedi and high-end party planner Viren Khanna, the minister said prima-facie it appeared that Khanna was also a kingpin and detailed investigation was on.
To a question about Tourism Minister CT Ravi's statement on pressure being exerted on the police, Bommai said, "What he (Ravi) said is right he has said that as influential people are involved naturally there may be such attempts. He has not said about any specific pressure."
The minister said there was no question of bowing down to any pressure and police have been given free hand to take action in accordance with law.
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FIR registered against Prof Muralidhar Deshpande who called Muslim student terrorist during class
Bengaluru: The Girinagar police in Bengaluru on Saturday afternoon registered a suo motu FIR against a professor of PES University after a video of an alleged classroom incident went viral on social media.
According to the FIR, the case has been registered under Sections 299 and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
Section 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, punishes intentional insults designed to provoke a breach of peace. It covers verbal, written, or gestural insults that degrade dignity and are likely to cause a person to break the law or commit violence.
Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, criminalizes deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage the religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or beliefs.
The complaint in the FIR has been filed by a police officer attached to Girinagar Police Station. The officer stated that while gathering information, he came across a post on the social media platform X from an account named “The Muslim”.
The post claimed that at PES University in Bengaluru, a professor identified as Dr. Muralidhar Deshpande allegedly referred to a Muslim student, Affan, as a “terrorist” at least 13 times during a class and made several other remarks in front of around 60 students.
The FIR also records the additional claims mentioned in the post, including statements allegedly made by the professor and concerns about deletion of CCTV footage.
The accused has been named as Professor Muralidhar Deshpande, while the student mentioned in the complaint is identified as Affan.
The police have noted that the alleged act could hurt religious sentiments and has the potential to disturb communal harmony, which prompted the registration of the case.
The FIR clearly mentions that the case has been registered suo motu by the police, meaning no formal complaint from the victim was required at this stage.
