Kerala - Kochi   

Police crackdown on drug abuse

Staff Reporter

Drive as part of Anti-Narcotic Campaign

KOCHI: As part of strengthening its anti-narcotic drive, the police are identifying `red beat' areas in the city limits where more narcotic drug-related activities have been reported in recent times.

The police will identify at least 15 such spots spread across the city.

This will include Karshaka Road, Modi Bathroom in Mattanchery, Nambiapuram and some areas of Vazhakkala.

More police personnel, including `Shadows,' will be deployed in these areas. The activities of the force will be coordinated from the respective police stations.

"Beside regular beats, the personnel will be asked to collect information and look for drug-related crimes," said P. Vijayan, City Police Commissioner. Surprise checks by crime squad will also be held in these areas.

The drive is being implemented as part of the Anti-Narcotic Campaign 2007 (ANAC-2007).

The special campaign comes in the wake of an increase in the number of cases related to Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

While 36 cases were registered in 2004 and 27 cases were registered in 2005, the number of cases registered in 2006 was 69.

The situation has warranted more cooperation between various agencies involved in dealing with movement of narcotic drugs.

Information-sharing

The city police have initiated efforts to streamline the flow of information between agencies such as the Railway Police, Railway Protection Force, narcotic wing of Excise and also organisations like the All-Kerala Chemists and Druggists Association.

The Ernakulam District Residents Association Apex Council had earlier adopted a drive against sale and use of drugs as one of the four key result areas for the current year.

Talks are also on with Airtel, a private mobile phone provider, towards establishing a dedicated line for the public to report drug-related offences.

The Narcotic Cell of the city police will handle the telephone line.

"Drug abuse is found mostly among youngsters and the majority of them are addicted to narcotic drug tidigesic," said Mr. Vijayan.

Unhygienic and shared use of hypodermic syringes by drug users is a major concern among law-enforcers and health officials. The police are more worried about the developing trends as need for money to buy narcotic drugs proved to the cause for many petty crimes reported in recent times.

The inter-district flow of information regarding the movement of narcotic drugs will also be enhanced.

This will be coordinated by the Deputy Inspector General of Police at the range level.

The drive against sale and use of narcotic drugs suffered a setback when the Kerala High Court, based on a review petition, overruled the earlier norm that possession of even one ampoule of narcotic drug could be treated as a non-bailable offence.

More awareness campaigns will be held at schools in the city.

A meeting of voluntary organisations involved in rehabilitation of drug addicts is also being planned.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (Narcotic Wing, City Police) will coordinate the activities of ANAC-2007.

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