Mangalore: Poor technology has led to increase in drug menace - ADGP A M Prasad

Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NM)

Mangalore, Mar 14: “Technology has greater role to play in combatting drug menace. However, poor technology placed at the entrance of ports to indentify passage of drugs, and an apparent failure to quickly examine the seized drugs has enabled easy supply of drugs in India," said Ashit Mohan Prasad, additional director general of police (crime and technical service).

He was delivering the keynote address during a workshop on “Technology to combat drug menace”  organized by the department of criminology and forensic Science, School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya here on Thursday March 14.

‘Drugs come to India through the land, air and sea routes. Our country has become a centre for trading activities of drugs across the world. Therefore, a far greater vigil is necessary to stop the menace," A M Prasad said.

"About 35 tons of cocaine comes to India, but only one ton has been seized. Apart from metal detectors, there are no other highly sophisticated instruments to indentify the carriage of drugs at the airport. Rigorous physical examination can help; however, there is objection from the passengers with regard to privacy. Therefore, smuggling drugs is easier. To regulate such activities, sniffer dog squad is the best alternative available," he said, adding that such measures have been taken.

"Though there are a number of drug smuggling cases at airport and harbour here, Mangalore is less competent to examine the seized substances," he said.

"In addition, according to Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) rules, the seized substance has to be taken to the laboratory for examination. But due to the unavailability of competent technology in the laboratories, there is a clear sign of deficiency in the test results of seized drugs," he further said.
 
"Due to the time taken in between the seizure of drugs and its lab testing, the ingredients of drugs get dissipated and therefore the case will have no value. Due to failure to prove the seizure of drugs in the laboratory, the police have to face embarrassment," he said.
 
"To meet such challenges, there is need to decentralize all the forensic labs. Another challenge before the law enforcing authority is the arrival of new kinds of drugs. There are drug substances in tablets, opium, whitener, iodex, syrup and it is difficult to catch addicts," he said.
 
Abhishek Goyal, superintendent of police was the guest of honor. He said, “Drug menace is one of the bigger issues dogging the society. It is not a rural phenomenon but has been prevalent in the urban areas and particularly in education institutions. It not only creates ruckus in the present time but also incapacitates the next generation.
 
"Apart from technological support, drug menace could be prevented with management, consultation methods from the support of parents and teachers. It is easy to identify the victim in the initial stages as there are many indicators like staying aloof, absenteeism, and petty thefts," he further added.

Citing the example of Punjab where drug menace is rampant, he said the problem there is 20 times more than in Karnataka. Cases of stealing pumps, pipes from the field are reported as it has become a means for quick money for the next dose of drugs. We should not ignore such indicators as that can help prevent greater addiction, he advised adding, “Cigarettes, tobacco are not only injurious to health but preclusion of drug addiction”.

Dr Jacinta D’Souza, former principal, Provincial Daughters of Heart of Mary presided over the occasion.
Undergraduate and postgraduate students from various colleges under Mangalore University took part in the workshop.

Tilak Chandra, DySP, CID Karnataka, Satish, police inspector, CID Narcotic Cell, Mangalore (police perception), Udayananda A, advocate, special PP Customs, Govt of India (legal perception), Harsha, senior reporter, New Indian Express, Mangalore (media perception) and Dr AM Narahari, registrar, St Aloysius College, Mangalore (public perception) of four different streams were the resource persons at the workshop.

Dr B Ashoka, HOD of the department briefed about the theme of the workshop, while Deepthi M, a faculty member welcomed the guests and Veenashree proposed a vote of thanks.

Earlier, a short skit on drug menace with the message 'Say no to drugs' was presented.