Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MD)
Mangaluru, Oct 30: The district administration on the order of the court on Friday October 30 destroyed 18.17 kg of ganja that had been seized in various cases between 2008 and 2011.
As the cases in which the ganja had been seized were disposed off by the court, it ordered the deputy commissioner and other officials concerned to destroy it. Accordingly, several bundles of ganja were set afire at the DC's office in the presence of deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim and other officials.
Addressing the gathering, A B Ibrahim said, "We are burning 18 kg of seized ganja worth Rs 5 lac, and we are doing this publicly because though this is a valuable item, it is also dangerous to society. The society, and especially the youth, should know the consequences of drug abuse. Through this exercise, we are trying to convey the message that everyone must stay away from ganja and other drugs. Let us make our society drug-free.
"More and more people are getting addicted to drugs and we have been getting complaints from colleges and railway stations. We had a meeting with the DGP and other officials and planned on how to get rid of this menace. We have also created a squad to prevent such cases," he added.
"We have received complaints from areas under Western Ghats also. Ganja is being grown in some forest areas also. Ganja is being stealthily transported through railway via Hyderabad-Panjim (Panaji)-Mangaluru and Hyderabad-Chennai-Mangaluru routes. This is the information we have received. The state government has taken up this issue very seriously and the public also should do the same," he said.
Dakshina Kannada district deputy commissioner of excise L A Manjunath said, "The DC has already given us orders two weeks ago to strictly stop abuse and peddling of drugs. We have conducted raids in Bantwal, Puttur and other areas and filed cases. We are also collecting information from the public. We will not reveal the names of informants."
"We raided some areas in Moodshedde and so far we have come across three alcoholics there. Our search there is on. Ganja is being smuggled from Kerala. The ganja brought from there is dried up and sold in a small packets," he added.
The DC also said that anyone who has information about drug abuse can call on 9449597103, 9449597109, 9449597111 to inform the authorities.