MARGAO
South Goa district police chief, SP Tikam Singh Verma, said that the police have launched a probe into the death of the BITS Pilani student to trace the source of the drugs and identify where the deceased had consumed them, which proved fatal.
With the Goa Police coming under the scanner after the Randox test confirmed the presence of drugs in the body of the deceased students, the district police chief has said the men-in-uniform is determined to break the link between drug peddlers, underscoring the need to stop drugs from entering the educational institutions.
He said the Goa Police is in touch with the management of BITS Pilani following the student’s death, saying the police are conducting investigations into all angles. “BITS Pilani management is cooperating with the police. Our focus of investigations right now is to find out the source of drugs since the Randox test has confirmed the presence of drugs in the body of the deceased student,” he said.
He added: “Of the five deaths of BITS Pilani students, this is the first case wherein drugs have been found in the body of the decease. Preliminary Randox test has confirmed the presence of drugs in the body. We are trying to find out the source of the drugs and where the student had consumed the drugs.”
To a question whether the police had at any time conducted random checking of educational institutions and baggage of students, SP Tikam said, “We cannot check the baggage of the students, but the police have been maintaining vigil on the shops and establishments located in close vicinity of educational institutions, with focus on persons moving suspiciously near the school campuses.”
He added: “Recently, we had conducted a drive to check the shops and establishments near the educational institutions. We will not only continue, but intensify the drive in the future as well.”
To another question, the district police chief has said whether it’s BITS Pilani or any other educational institutions, the focus is on the security supervisors of these institutions. “Our beat police will remain in contact with the security supervisors of the educational institutions. They are being sensitised to notify the police if they come across any suspicious activity close to the campus.”
Saying the police will not spare drug peddlers involved in distributing drugs, SP Tikam agreed that the accused in drug cases is meted out punishment as per the quantify of the drugs seized. He, however, said, once a person is apprehended with drugs, irrespective of the quantity of drug seizure, he is put on surveillance by the law enforcing agency.
