Kozhikode: Apathy on the part of the police in taking effective steps to curb the activities of the `drug mafia' is once again turning Bangladesh Colony at West Hill into a crime-hub.

At least three anti-narcotic campaigners came under attack from drug peddlers at the colony on Saturday night. They have been admitted to Government General Hospital and Kozhikode Medical College Hospital with injuries.

Residents of the colony said trouble started when an anti-narcotic squad formed by them stopped drug peddlers from entering the colony. However, another group of drug traffickers overpowered the local people and beat them up. A case has been registered at the Nadakkavu police station in this connection. A posse of police personnel has also been deployed to prevent further incidents.

But, local people have alleged that a few police officials are hand in glove with the drug mafia at the colony. Some of them are also attempting to scuttle the programmes of the anti-narcotic committee. Policemen are being posted only when an incident occurs, they alleged.

C.P. Sulaiman and T. Moidu, chairman and convener of the committee, charged the police with trying to foist false cases on some of the activists. "Bangladesh Colony has not only become a den of drug distribution but also of anti-social activities," they said.

Anti-narcotic campaigners have been actively involved in stopping the menace after 25 residents of the colony died of drug abuse over the past several years. Later, a committee was also set up after the authorities, including the police and the district administration, failed to take any initiatives to curtail the activities of the drug mafia.

The situation turned worse over a year ago when hired goons of the drug mafia attacked mediapersons and police personnel. An assistant sub- inspector had to be placed under suspension for dereliction of duty. In a bid to stop the menace, the former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and the former Minister for Forest and Environment A. Sujanapal visited the colony last year.

Brown sugar seized

A fortnight ago, the Kasaba police, acting on a tip-off, arrested two persons who were found in possession of one kilogram of brown sugar valued at Rs.1 crore in the international market.

One of them, hailed from Gudalur and the other from Idukki. The drug was allegedly meant for distribution in the colony. The drug was manufactured in Afghanistan. Packets containing the narcotic had labels signifying that the stuff was manufactured there.

Officials are now seeking the help of their counterparts in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to intensify their probe as the accused had sourced the drug from Masinagudi in Tamil Nadu, for merchandising it in north Kerala and Karnataka.

Unfazed by these incidents, the committee members have decided to go ahead with a meeting on August 15 to declare Bangladesh Colony a drug-free zone.

District Collector A. Jayatilak and City Police Commissioner Balram Kumar Upadhyay are expected to take part in the programme.

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