Abhijith N Kolpe
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Jan 30: With supply of ganja (aka marijuana or weed) becoming rampant in the coastal region, it has become a challenge for the police department to control its flow and nab those involved in peddling this psychoactive drug.

Nevertheless, the city cops have managed to seize large quantities and also nab some notorious peddlers over the last couple of years. Though there has been an 80 percent rise in the ganja cases in the last three years, the positive stride taken by the police department is evident from the data shared by City Crime Records Bureau (CCRB) to Daijiworld. In 2015 only 16.65 kg of ganja was seized and 70 arrested but in 2016 the cops managed to seize 109.23 kg and nab 306 and in 2017 another 100.51 kg with 398 arrested.

The ganja issue in Mangaluru hit limelight in 2013 after 18-year-old Sneha committed suicide owing to drug abuse. While some term Mangaluru as the ‘hub of drugs’ Sahyadri Sanchaya Convenor Dinesh Holla alleges that the drug racket in the region is being operated by the drug and resort mafia in the Western Ghats.

"The forest minister (Ramanath Rai) has lost control over his department. Thousands of hectares of land have been grabbed by this mafia and they are not allowing anyone to enter this region. The recent story of Naxal visit was completely fabricated by this mafia. There is no Naxal activity now in this region. Areas such as Barimale, Ambattimale, Banjarmale, Somana Kadu, Aramane Gudda are already encroached by this mafia," he said.

As per the City Crime Records Bureau (CCRB) the seized property under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) cases reported for the year 2015, 2016 and 2017 up to December:

NDPS cases reported for the year 2015, 2016 and 2017:

Ganja in Jail

Ganja is also being routinely supplied to the jail inmates, and the police have seized packets of the drug during raids on several occasions. In the year 2016, a mother-daughter duo was caught red handed while supplying ganja to a jail inmate.

Supply from Kerala - Tamil Nadu

Ganja also gets supplied to the region from across the state borders. On January 24 this year, a person from Kerala was arrested along with three Mangaluru persons at Ullal who were possessing 800 grams of ganja. Incidents of ganja being peddled from Tamil Nadu and Kerala has also come to the notice of the cops.

Ganja cases have been plenty, with the anti-rowdy squads in the city arresting ganja peddlers from various parts of the city every other day. Recently, a kingpin identified as Saleem Pasha was caught with 10.2 kg of ganja in his possession.

Two months back a police inspector found a 12 feet tall ganja plant that was supposedly grown in the compound of a cement storage warehouse near Kodikal cross of Bangrakuloor village.

Last year, a 30-year-old died in a bike accident at Thokkottu. Two packets of ganja were found in his possession.

Ganja Consumption Led to Murder

Ganja consumption also allegedly led to a murder in the region in July 2017. Around 10 people were consuming ganja in an old house at Vamanjoor and later got into a clash in intoxicated state, which ended up in the murder of Pawan Raj.

In October 2017, in a major crackdown, 21 youth were booked for peddling ganja and its consumption at Pacchanady and Neermarga all aged between 22-30. These incidents highlight how the youngsters are falling prey to drug addiction.

Individuals and social organisations are demanding a crackdown on the drug mafia operating in the coastal city before the situation gets out of hand.

Parents' Role

Parents need to constantly communicate with their children and should closely monitor their kids for unexplained tell tale signs like fatigue, increasing demand for money, anxiety, preferring to be alone in room, withdrawal symtoms etc. Being in denial mentality on the part of parents and society will only aggravate the situation and the problem will take other dimensions such as crime. There are de-addiction centers in the city and parents should not hesitate to avail expert help when they feel concerned about their children.