New Delhi: India's geographical location, huddled in between the neighboring golden triangle of Thailand-Myanmar-Laos and the golden crescent of Afghanistan-Pakistan, the regions fueling the illicit drug trade, was always an attractive destination for traffickers in the global narcotics smuggling. It turns out now that the capital city of Delhi is fast becoming the favourite transit area for international transshipment from high-end synthetic drugs to street-used ganja, charas. And the long-exploited mode of shipment through couriers is becoming the preferred method of smuggling drugs. [continues 283 words]
Conviction rate dismal, most accused acquitted due to insufficient evidence There has been a significant increase in drug smuggling in Udhampur district, but the conviction rate has been a dismal 4.6 per cent over the years. According to official data, 110 cases have been registered in Udhampur in the past five years but the accused in a majority of these cases managed to go scot-free. As 74 km of the 300-km-long Jammu-Srinagar National Highway passes through Udhampur district, adjoining areas of Udhampur become temporary haven for smugglers. [continues 399 words]
The Congress's Punjab unit decided on Sunday decided to organise a rally in Amritsar on January 22 the day when BJP president Amit Shah is set to launch an anti-drugs rally in that city. The announcement came during a major show of strength by Amarinder Singh, MP, on Sunday, when at least 200 leaders, including Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Sunil Jakhar, 35 of the 44 MLAs, 50 former legislators, Ludhiana MP Ravneet Singh and officer-bearers of the Pradesh Congress Committee resolved to work under his leadership to revive the party in the State and strengthen the hands of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi. [continues 319 words]
We Need to Control the Scourge of Drug Addiction Drug abuse, is the illicit consumption of any naturally occurring or pharmaceutical substance for reasons other than for medical use. They change the way in which a person feels, thinks or behaves and its addiction is severely hampering all aspects of life. The consequences of drug use are always worse than the problem one is trying to solve with them. Drug abuse and addiction is killing people morally, socially, psychologically, physically and even economically. Identified as a disease in 1956 by the World Health Organization and the American Psychiatric Association, the number of people suffering from this hidden disease is increasing world over. [continues 1303 words]
College days are known to be the best part of any student's life, but they can also give nightmares to many, in terms of ragging and drug abuse. In the past also we have lost students due to the inhuman practice called ragging, which starts with 'fun' by the seniors but ends up with consequences, sometimes with the victim committing suicide. The same is true of drug abuse. Students start taking drugs as part of their 'experimental' nature but end up becoming addicts. [continues 397 words]
In the wake of increasing incidents of drug abuse by youth in the city, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officials are planning to step up awareness drives among college and school students. On Wednesday, the National Academy of Customs Excise and Narcotics (NACEN), which provides training to officials in Customs and drug laws, roped in NCB and Customs officials to provide an awareness seminar on drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking. The lectures were held at Loyola College of Engineering and Technology, in view of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking to be observed on June 26, and were attended by students from city colleges. [continues 382 words]
CHANDIGARH: A daylong convention was organized at Panjab University (PU) on Saturday to motivate elected representatives to participate in awareness on drug abuse at panchayat level. The convention, "Role of Panchayats in Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention" was organized by the Society for Promotion of Youth & Masses (SPYM) in partnership with National Institute of Social Defence, ministry of social justice and empowerment; development and panchayat department, government of Haryana and department of community education and disability studies, Panjab University. An assistant professor at AIIMS, Yatanpal, said, "The rural population, youth and adolescents are most vulnerable to drug abuse." He stressed that unemployment and nuclear family culture often led to the problem of drug abuse among youth. Youth should be made aware of the ill-effects of drugs and voluntary sector could help government reach these population groups, he added. [continues 131 words]
With drug addiction among Punjab youths becoming a hot election topic, senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley is not mincing words on the issue in the course of his campaign for the Amritsar seat though his political partners, especially some senior Akali leaders, are accused of encouraging the illicit trade. As Jaitley put it in his blog on Friday, "Yesterday, I was addressing a public meeting at Rajasansi. The loudest cheer was reserved for a comment made against the drug addiction in the state. Enthusiastic applause came from that section of the audiences where a large number of women were seated. This explains it all." [continues 367 words]
5000 capsules, 7 KG Charas, 26 gm brown sugar recovered, 20 arrested in 15 cases Srinagar, Feb 22: Coming out of alleged slumber the City police has gone active against drug menace with a "record recovery of contraband narcotics" and arrest of 20 accused in separate cases in the past around a month, official sources said Saturday. They said following embarrassment over alleged police slumber on drug menace, the cops have started a massive crackdown against drug-traffickers. "In the past around a month, during separate raids no less than 5000 Proxyvon capsules, seven kiliograms of Charas, 26 grams of brown sugar, 176 bottles of codeine have been recovered whereas 20 persons have been arrested for their link to drug trafficking," said a investigating officer in know of the matter adding that as many as 15 cases have been filed. [continues 327 words]
Hostel Residents Laid Siege To The Busy Hospital Road For Close To An Hour In Protest. Three inmates of Maharaja's College hostel were admitted to the General Hospital on Wednesday after they were beaten up by a gang of students from the same college allegedly as retaliation for campaigning against drug abuse on campus. Habeeb, a first year student of BA Politics; Subin, a first year student of BA Islamic History; and Bibin, a visually challenged second year student of BA Politics, have been admitted to the hospital. The hospital authorities have not commented on their condition. [continues 204 words]
Residents debate whether Goa has paid too steep a price for a tourism boom that also brought narcotics traffickers The American tourist sipping a frosty beer by an oceanside shack had been in Goa just a few hours before a man sidled up to him and asked whether he wanted to buy drugs. "I heard the waves, my toes dug into the sand, and my weekend holiday had just begun," said Pablo Rosa, 48, from Texas. "Even before I got my feet wet in the water, I was offered drugs. That's how easy and open it is here." [continues 1025 words]
Say No To Drugs Srinagar, June 23: A candle light vigil was held at Press Enclave here on Sunday in which people from all walks of life participated to create awareness against drug abuse in Kashmir.The vigil was organized by CAUSE, an NGO and Civil Society Forum Kashmir.Students and professionals took part in the vigil after responding to a call by the NGOs about a week long campaign against drug abuse.The organiser of the event, Zubair Ahmad, said the vigil was meant to create awareness among the youth."This event is to raise awareness about the menace of drug abuse in the state and to sensitize people so that a movement will start against it", he said.He said the vigil is being held under the slogan "From Darkness of Drug Addiction towards the Candle of Life". "They will also hold road shows and seminars in schools and degree colleges in the near future to create awareness among students."Continuing its efforts, an awareness programme was also organised at the Governmen! t Degree College Baramulla as part of its week long youth convention on Drug de-addiction all over J&K.The second part of initiativeagainst drugs by an NGO-CAUSE (concerned about universal social empowerment) and Civil Society Forum Kashmir (CSFK) in association with NSS unit Baramulla was organized in the conference hall of the college in which district administration, local NGO's, doctors, college administration and hundreds of students participated. [continues 255 words]
Srinagar, June 22: The old City residents have complained of growing waywardness at the nearby Badamwari Park even as they accused the police of sleeping over the issue. "Amid police inaction against the miscreants indulging in daylight waywardness" in and around Badamwari, the residents have urged the state government to "sensitise the police about the deteriorating situation before it gets out of hands." The locals alleged that the "police is shutting eyes to the growing incidents of waywardness." "Just today a cab driver was caught indulging in bashful acts with a minor girl who was later handed over to her parents. Earlier also similar incidents were reported from the locality," the residents said. The concerned citizens have already accused the police of sleeping over alleged drug-trafficking at the nearby Sheikh Colony. They appealed Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Abdul Gani Mir to personally look into the matter. [end]
Substance abuse. That was a dirty word in public perception years ago as the national television went on an overdrive, educating students, parents and teachers about the ill effects of addiction. Fictionised serials, edutainment programmes on the topic dominated primetime. Strangely, that activism has today died down, even as drug abuse has spread its evil tentacles across the vastly changed City. The danger of more students falling prey to this trend is disturbingly close. For instance, only a few days ago, a group of students from a prominent engineering college in the City were suspended from their hostel for possession and use of marijuana. Those who knew the students well told Deccan Herald that the group had been under the shadow of drugs for long before they were caught. [continues 865 words]
Not only is the City's underbelly mired in couriering and peddling drugs, the well-to-do are also at the crossroads of the malaise Wearing different hats and being a hotbed of transformation, Bangalore is tired. Tired of bearing people's thoughts, embracing diverse cultures and dealing with its homeless. But it has not been able to free itself from the addiction of gaining repute for things. For, addiction is not alien to any culture. Diction cannot differentiate its effects. [continues 1243 words]
The swift expulsion of three students allegedly caught smoking marijuana in their hostel rooms at Indian Institute of Management, Indore, this past week has led Delhi's student and teaching fraternity to believe that the Institute acted in undue haste and failed in its moral duty towards the students. 'ALLOW IMPROVEMENT' "An educational institution is supposed to help students resist temptation and allow them to improve themselves. Instead, by expelling these students and ruining their careers, it has assumed the role of a judicial or criminal body. They have failed as an academic institution by coming down on them hard and washing their hands off any responsibility towards these students," said Maya John, a resident at Delhi University's hostel for women. [continues 328 words]
India Never Saw Eye-To-Eye With the US-Led Drive to Outlaw Recreational Use of Cannabis Across the World The referendum passed by two US states approving the recreational use of marijuana for adults is fraught with irony for India. Whether it can prevail over the stringent federal law or not, the referendum adopted by Colorado and Washington vindicates the reservations expressed by India 50 years ago to a global prohibition on hard as well as soft drugs. The 1961 "single convention on narcotic drugs" was the first ever international treaty to have clubbed cannabis (or marijuana) with hard drugs and imposed a blanket ban on their production and supply except for medicinal and research purposes. During the negotiations for the UN treaty signed in New York, a group of cannabis and opium producing countries, led by India, opposed its intolerance to the sociocultural use of organic drugs. They were however overwhelmed by the US and other western countries which espoused tight controls on the production of organic raw material and on illicit trafficking. [continues 830 words]
Badal (Muktsar), Sept 11 - Alarmed over massive inflow of narcotic drugs into Punjab in recent years, police officers from three states today decided to share information every fortnight and cut supply and escape routes of narcotic smugglers on the run. Inspector General Nirmal Singh Dhillon said the police officers have identified 48 sensitive points used by criminals on Punjab's border with Haryana and Rajasthan. He said the drug route stretched from Rajasthan to Punjab and Haryana via Kandu Khera village in Muktsar district. [continues 345 words]
The consumption of drugs like marijuana and hashish (charas) has risen sharply among city students in the past couple of years, with regulars blowing up thousands of rupees on the habit every month and risking their young lives in the bargain. The easy availability of these drugs has seen a spurt in their consumption. From the neighbourhood paanwala to the bhelwala outside colleges, nondescript vendors are shelling out pudis to students at seemingly affordable rates. A student of a south Mumbai college, who has been consuming marijuana for four years, says that the police are only strict about dangerous drugs like heroin and cocaine, but lax when it comes to less potent drugs like weed. [continues 188 words]
The increasing numbers of drug-peddling cases in Bangalore make people wonder why the city is being increasingly targeted these days. Police officials reveal that apart from people earning higher salaries, the convenience of getting a faster bail is the biggest reason for drug peddlers making the city their main target. "Most drug peddlers on interrogation told us that it is easy for them to get bail and walk free in a couple of weeks, whereas it is extremely difficult to do so in some other states of India as well as foreign countries," said a senior police officer. [continues 239 words]
Now, Punjab doesn't just deal in synthetic drugs such as heroin, but residents have also started consuming them. The drug menace has reached an alarming situation in Punjab and the police are concerned about it. What is more concerning is that the youth is falling in its prey. Top officials of Punjab are studying the pattern thoroughly, Punjab DGP Sumedh Singh Saini said on a visit to Ludhiana on Saturday. He said this in a meeting with local police officials. He addressed mediapersons before the meeting. He said drug peddlers allegedly lure people especially the youth by offering them free-of-cost drugs. "Once the youth tastes it, they develop a habit to consume drugs. The Punjab police have recovered drugs in huge quantity in the past few months. This indicates that there is a rapid trade of drugs in the state," he added. [continues 209 words]
Chandigarh - Even as new generation parents are perceived as "open minded" and relatively more friendly with their children than the older generation parents, the levels of concern among the former seem to be greater. In fact, the level of suspicion among parents has gone so high that many of them have started hiring private detectives to keep a tab on their children's lifestyle. Speaking to Newsline, Gautum Giri, who heads agency Sharp Detectives in Sector 34, Chandigarh, noted that the fear of indulgence in bad company, drug addiction and intoxication by children are the common concerns of parents. "Parents are usually suspicious that their children may be in bad company, or want to know about the girl friend or boy friend they have, drug or alcohol abuse" said N K Bhatnagar, chandigarh circle manager of Greves Protection, a Delhi-based agency. [continues 381 words]
KOLKATA: Drug addicts are the worst troublemakers in custody, say police. Most of these addicts roam about scot free because they might prove dangerous for fellow inmates if put behind bars. "They might attack other accused. Often they hide razors under their tongues and slash their wrists at the time of withdrawal. At times we end up spending the entire day in a hospital so that the person in custody survives. We try to hand them over to drug rehabilitation NGOs. But most often the NGO do not give them much attention and care. Frankly speaking, we lack the infrastructure to deal with drug addicts," said an officer. [continues 469 words]
CHENNAI: The Narcotics Intelligence Bureau (NIB) is increasingly worried about the spread of the drug culture among the student community in the state. It has started taking the help of students themselves in forming 'drug busters' in educational institutions in an effort to curb the growth of the dangerous trend. Work on the 'drug busters' module "was formally inaugurated by state home secretary R Rajagopal at an awareness rally organized by the NIB-CID in Chennai on June 26," additional director general of police (special investigation team) Prateep V Phillip said. [continues 243 words]
Shaukat Symbolises Change That Many Like Him Have Undergone Shaukat of Jahangirpuri started taking drugs at the age of 10 while in Class 4. Due to addiction, he dropped out of school and took to stealing. Now, he is a reformed man of 22 years, projected as a role model at the city's first permanent drug de-addiction centre for juvenile delinquents at Kingsway Camp. Come New Year, he will begun work as a cook at the canteen of the de-addiction centre where he was treated from May to October this year. [continues 492 words]
Global cartels that used to buy ingredients from India have boldly set up drug factories here. THERE ARE three problems with the State's approach to a drug named methamphetamine, usually called meth or ice. It doesn't understand the buyer. It doesn't understand the seller. It doesn't understand itself. The buyer could be the male friend of the girl at a Bandra after-party in Mumbai, who casually picks out a random card from a pack, containing a word others have to guess. Her eyes light up. "What you love to do," she says, pointing to him. "Ice" is the answer. It can be injected, smoked, snorted or taken as a pill. Here, pills are being passed around. [continues 2963 words]
The Global Commission on Drug Policy, a group that includes former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and several former Latin American presidents, is expected to announce soon that the "war on drugs" has been a failure. The Mexican government states that since President Felipe Calderon took office in 2006 and implemented a crackdown, trafficking has been a factor in 35,000 deaths, and drug-related corruption is out of control. In the United States, which has the world's highest levels of use, the NGO Drug Policy Alliance estimates that official bodies spend $51 billion a year fighting drugs. The political context is also significant. In India, regions like the Northeast reveal connections between conflict and opportunities for trafficking, as also between injected drugs and HIV/AIDS transmission. Furthermore, law and policy are no deterrents; research on cannabis use has found that the most important factor is the social context. [continues 275 words]
BANGALORE: No consideration should be shown to people dealing in narcotic drugs, the Karnataka high court said while rejecting the bail plea of a foreign national caught for possession of hashish. Even a procedural mistake on the part of the authorities will not help those involved in crimes like drug trafficking and peddling to get away, and they are not entitled to bail. The court went as far as saying that those dealing in narcotics are worse than murder accused. "In a murder case, the accused commits murder of one or two persons, while those dealing in narcotic drugs are instrumental in causing death to a number of innocent young victims who are vulnerable. It has a deadly impact on society, and if they are released on bail, in all probability, they would continue their nefarious activities of trafficking and dealing in intoxicants clandestinely," Justice A S Pachchapure observed. [continues 277 words]
Easy availability of drugs near educational institutions has led to a growing number of students falling prey to drug addiction in the city. This was revealed during a survey conducted by Kripa Foundation, one of the oldest and largest NGOs working in the field of substance abuse and HIV/AIDS in the country. Rabiul Islam, the project consultant of Kripa Foundation (Assam), said during the survey, 27.35 per cent of the student respondents disclosed that drugs were easily available near their schools or colleges. [continues 315 words]
A lot has still to be achieved in order to make society more free from the dangers of drugs and observance of June 26 as International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking should be a time to review how successful have various pledges and efforts been in reducing uses by all and sundry. The day has been observed to spread awareness so as to alert the individual, family and by extension, the community about the terrible consequences of drug abuse. There are too many families who have lost a loved one or two because of drug addiction. [continues 421 words]
VARANASI: Pradeep (name changed), a teenager who is all set to join college this year, finds himself on one of the de-addiction beds under psychiatry department of Banaras Hindu University (BHU). The young student is still recovering from forced drug abuse by his friends that pushed him into drug addiction. Ramzan, a ragpicker, who initially switched to cigarette smoking when instigated by his friends, has now become a drug addict and often looks for heroin or psychotropic drugs. These are some of the startling stories of drug abuse in young children and youth of the city even as the region looks all set to observe International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (IDADAIT) on Saturday (June 26). The growing tendency of drug abuse among youngsters has already raised concerns for health experts in the region. "Young children and youths are becoming an easy prey to the vicious network of drug peddlers in the region. This network is now spreading even to remote rural areas," said Sanjay Gupta, head, psychiatry department, BHU. It all starts from a cigarette puff and later transforms into deep addiction of hard psychotropic drugs including opium, heroin, cannabis and others. [continues 193 words]
VARANASI: Do not be surprised if you come across young children selling hash (ganja) and cannabis (bhang) to visitors including foreign tourists who throng prominent ghats on the banks of the holy Ganga in the city. Children form a strong network of drug peddlers in the region. Even drives and raids by the Narcotics Control Bureau and city police have failed to work as deterrent for them, as the practice continues unabated especially along the ghats. According to narcotics control office, 15.57 kg heroin was recovered in 2007, while last year, authorities had seized over 20 kg of the illegal stuff. [continues 201 words]
Satellite images passed on to the state police by the Narcotics Control Bureau have set alarm bells ringing. The images indicate a growing number of people in Himachal Pradesh, especially in Kullu valley, have succumbed to the temptation of cultivating poppy. The images, said ADGP ( CID) I.D. Bhandari, also mark an increasing shift from the cultivation of cannabis to the cultivation of poppy. This is obviously because a kilo of hashish made from cannabis fetches Rs. 20,000 but a Kg of heroin, made from poppy, could fetch up to Rs one crore in the international market. [continues 376 words]
CHENNAI: Cocaine, an expensive illicit drug, has always had a presence in elite partying circles worldwide. In Chennai, there has been no noticeable use of the drug among party-goers, some of whom make do with ketamine (a synthetic general anaesthetic that is extensively used in veterinary medicine). However, the arrest of two Nigerians, who were found to be in possession of the drug, in the city a few days ago has revealed that cocaine could be finding favour among rich party-goers in Chennai, especially as the drug, routed through African countries, is not difficult to source here. [continues 363 words]
A Britain based Punjabi family on Wednesday accused tainted Indian Police Service officer Shajji Mohan, who was arrested in Mumbai on Sunday with 12 kg heroin, of falsely implicating them in more than a drugs trafficking case. Baljinder Singh, 53, his son Sukhjinder Singh, (both British nationals), and Nigerian national John F. Kennedy were allegedly caught with eight kilograms of heroin in 2007. They are lodged in Burail jail here. However, defence counsel Kuldeep Singh Chaudhary denied the charges and said the NCB officials, led by Shajji Mohan, a former zonal director of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Chandigarh, were demanding money from the accused to get them freed. [continues 180 words]
Chandigarh - Catching drug peddlers was a job entrusted to Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Shajji Mohan. His switchover to the other side and being caught with 12 kg heroin in a Mumbai suburb has left everyone dumbstruck in Chandigarh. The Mumbai Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Sunday arrested Mohan with the drug consignment, estimated to be worth over Rs.120 million in the open market, from an undisclosed location in Oshiwara, a north-west Mumbai suburb, ATS chief KP Raghuvanshi told mediapersons in Mumbai. [continues 512 words]
Ever wondered how the naxals get the money to procure latest arms and sustain their growing cadre? The answer lies in the obscure world of illicit cultivation of narcotic substances. Sources in the country's anti-narcotic agencies say large scale illegal cultivation of opium and ganja takes place in naxal-affect-ed areas especially in States such as Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. At places where the naxals do not directly get involved in the illicit cultivation, they charge money for providing protection to those involved in the practice. [continues 321 words]
KOLKATA - Despite a crackdown on organised drug syndicates in border districts of West Bengal, some heroin manufacturing units have come up in Nadia and Murshidabad recently. According to a report of the Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB), cultivation of poppy and opium couldn't be totally stopped in these two districts inspite of a massive operation launched jointly by central and state law enforcing agencies and district authorities. "It is true that cultivation of poppy and opium couldn't be eradicated totally due to various reasons. Poppy cultivation is being carried out in remote places and it is difficult for police to conduct raids there. To add to it, getting information on such illegal activities is also very difficult. As a result, some farmers are getting involved in heroin manufacturing through opium," Mr K Shankar, zonal director, NCB told The Statesman. "We have asked district administration in Nadia and Murshidabad to ensure round the clock police presence in some places where heoin is reportedly being manufactured," said Mr K Shankar, zonal director, NCB. He, however, claimed that they have successfully reduced cultiv! ation of poppy in Nadia and Murshidabad in the last two years. [continues 246 words]
New Delhi (PTI): The Centre has initiated a "pilot study" of the patterns and trends of narcotic substance abuse in the country to get a "feasible statistics" for formulating "more effective" schemes for its prevention. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has given the responsibility of conducting the study to the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO), official sources here said. NSSO will conduct a "house hold survey" and gather information on patterns and trends of alcoholism and drug abuse. The study will give a broad idea of the patterns, trends and various other aspects of the problem which will be useful for a strong policy design, the sources said. [continues 192 words]
MUMBAI: The anti-narcotics cell (ANC) of the Mumbai police has sent summons to 36 people, including 10 girls, who have tested positive for narcotic substances at a rave party in Juhu on October 5. The state forensic laboratory submitted its second report on Friday, which contained the test details of the 36 partygoers. "They have to present themselves before the court or the police in a week's time," said deputy commissioner of police (ANC) Vishwas Nangre-Patil. "The second report submitted showed that of the 43 samples, 36 tested positive for Ecstasy. In the first report, 109 people had tested positive for drugs," he said. [continues 212 words]
MUMBAI: An autopsy on one of the militants who killed hundreds in Mumbai last week showed he had not eaten for days and could have been on drugs, an Indian newspaper said on Thursday. The examination of Abu Dera Ismael Khan's body found no food in his stomach, raising suspicions he and the nine other militants subsisted on drugs, the Indian Express said. "It is difficult to find traces of these substances if consumed in small amounts," it quoted an unnamed pathologist at Nair hospital as saying. "We have preserved their viscera and blood samples and sent it for chemical analysis." Khan's was the first body to be taken to the Nair hospital, the paper said. [end]
Case Relates to Alleged Serving of Opiate at a Feast Organised by BJP Leader Police Had Closed the Case Filed Under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act Controversial Function Was Held in Singh's Ancestral Home in Jassol Town of Barmer District JAIPUR: A Special Court in Jodhpur on Monday reserved its verdict on a petition against the police closing a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act filed last year in connection with alleged serving of opiate at a feast organised by the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Jaswant Singh. [continues 371 words]
Chandigarh -- Six cops in the Punjab Police have been accused of conniving with the notorious drug peddler, Raju, who was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) last week. According to NCB officials, Raju disclosed that he used to give Rs 10,000 to each police station every month in order to check police monitoring in the narcotics smuggling. Raju also revealed to NCB that the cops were collection agents of the senior officers and used to pass on the money after taking it from him. He said the constables used to collect the money on every third or fourth day of the month. [continues 216 words]
New Delhi, PTI: A hybrid variety of cannabis, which was found to be used in countries like Mexico, has increasingly become popular among the Indians who grow it illegally as it increases the intoxication level and also double their production and profit margin. According to country's anti-narcotics agencies, the hybrid variety of cannabis is being grown in India too, a trend which is "alarming". "The hybrid variety is a new one which increases the tetrahy-dro-cannabinols (THCs) amount thereby increasing the intoxication level. It has been used in some major cannabis cultivating countries. Here too, the hybrid variety is being grown, though not on a large scale basis," a senior Narcotics Control Bureau official said. [continues 436 words]
We observed 26th june as the day against drugs. We must know drug addiction is associated with the development of psychiatric disorders Drug use in recent few decades particularly in young productive and fertile age has shown an alarming increase and has penetrated all segments of society. It has far reaching health, social, economic and political repercussions making it mandatory for psychiatry, education, social work and law endorsement agencies to work in collaboration. There is high risk of development of psychiatric disorders in patients who have been using these drugs of addiction over prolonged period of time. Patients suffering from drug abuse and psychiatric disorders simultaneously have variable impact on general condition and functioning and in fact are very difficult to treat. [continues 393 words]
JALANDHAR: Informing the police about the activities of a gang of smack (heroin) peddlers cost a young man his life. He was allegedly killed by the gang's leader who was later apprehended and confessed to the murder. The victim, Vikas Tewari, a resident of the New Model House area, had been reported missing on June 21 and his mother, Kamlesh, had told the police she suspected a notorious drug peddler active in the locality, Sandeep Johal, of being involved. She said on the fateful day her son was called by Johal on some pretext and he never returned home. When the cops rounded up Johal, he confessed to having killed him, sources close to the police revealed. [continues 193 words]
NEW DELHI: India's neighbourhood is increasingly becoming a haven for opium production with both Afghanistan and Myanmar experiencing a big spike in the drug crop that funds not only crime syndicates but also Islamic terror tanzims operating from safe havens in Pakistan's wild north-west. The world drug report 2008, released by the UN office on drugs and crime, identifies trends that ought to make Indian agencies sit up and take note. Net opium cultivation in terms of percentage of agricultural land rose by 17% in Afghanistan from 2006 to 2007 and with regard to hectares, the increase was from 165,000 to 193,000. [continues 389 words]
Srinagar - Given the vastness and hugeness of its campus, University of Kashmir has turned to be a safe haven for the drug addicts and more so for the female drug addicts, according to a survey carried out by HNSS, De-addiction and Rehabilitation Centre, Khanyar here. Talking to etala'at, Dr Ghulam Nabi Wani, founder HNSS said that the girls receiving their education at the university hide themselves behind the bushes and shrubs and take drugs being supplied to them. "As the campus of Kashmir University is very vast, many a things taking place in respect of drug addiction go unnoticed. It has been seen that the girls who are drug addicts would receive the drugs from the peddlers and then take the same while sitting behind the bushes as well as shrubs," he said. [continues 433 words]
If drugs were not banned, would Scarlett Keeling, the British teenager who was raped and murdered in Goa, be alive today? Perhaps. It was not drugs that killed Scarlett; it was the criminalisation of drugs that led to her death and to the subsequent cover-up attempt by the local police who allegedly are in collaboration with the drug mafias, mainly from Russia and Israel, who have reportedly set up operations in the state. Scarlett's murder raises a question often asked by libertarians: Does the prohibition of certain substances (tobacco, liquor, drugs) do more harm than good? In the case of liquor, the experience with prohibition worldwide, from the US to Stalinist Russia, has been emphatically negative. [continues 594 words]
Over a period, cultivation of poppy has grown by leaps and bounds with opium smugglers across the state and international borders making the entire northeast frontier of Jharkhand their haven. Yet, the police are looking the other way. Poppy seeds are used to make opium and other narcotic products. Intelligence agencies admit they are alarmed at the way the cultivation has spread across several acres in Tisri -- home town of former chief minister Babulal Marandi bordering Jamui district in Bihar -- and the Sahebganj district. [continues 493 words]
Inside India
