As part of efforts to make Karnataka a drugs-free state, the state government has begun stringent measures, including directives to the police to maintain close vigil at the Karnataka-Goa border.
Speaking after a cabinet meeting in Bengaluru on Thursday, Home Minister Basavraj Bommai said he has directed police officials to be on their toes and make an all efforts to curb the drugs trade.
“We have given complete authority to police not to compromise on anyone when it comes to the drug menace. I have brought the matter during the cabinet meeting which was chaired by Chief Minister Yediyurappa.”
“I have directed officers not to buckle under any pressure and have also directed police to keep a close eye on our state borders with Goa,” Bommai said.
“The Crime Control Branch (CCB) has been given authority to handle the drug menace and it will not yield to any political pressure,” he claimed.
It may be recalled that Belagavi has been used by interstate drug peddlers as a transit point.
In 2007, Akash Desai, Sanjay Harmalkar and two others were arrested by Belagavi police under the direction of then Belagavi SP Hemant Nimbalkar on charges of transporting drugs worth about Rs 20 crore concealed in photo frames.
Interrogations had revealed that the drugs were being transported regularly via Goa to various European countries. The gang used to carry drugs in their vehicles to Goa snubbing the check post and exporting them to various countries.
Apart from drugs, Karnataka police had seized motor cars, imported bikes and other equipments worth a few crores of rupees and the gang is now lodged in prison.
Meanwhile, speaking at Viijaypura (Bijapur), Karnataka DG & IGP Praveen Sood said he had a discussion with police commissioners and SPs of all districts and asked them to go all out against the drug trade in the state.
Meanwhile, Hubli police seized 5 kilos of ganja consignment and arrested two persons in Deshpandenagar.
Members of the ABVP have also staged protests in Belagavi and other parts of Karnataka, appealing to authorities to make Karnataka drugs-free under the ‘Nasha Mukt Abhiyan’ of Government of India.
