Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Sep 8: Director general of police (DG & IGP) Praveen Sood on Tuesday, September 8 said that the ongoing investigation into drugs mafia is not restricted only to Bengaluru but also expanded to include other districts such as Belagavi, Hubballi, Chitradurga and the coastal region.
He was speaking to reporters after holding a meeting at the SP office here on controlling drug menace.
"We ave zero tolerance for drugs. We discussed ways to control drug abuse during the meeting. Our investigation is not limited to Bengaluru alone. We have already conducted investigations in Belagavi, Hubballi, Chitradurga and the coastal region. We are not satisfied with the investigation that has been done so far," Sood said.
"We will control the abuse of all kinds of drugs, be it soft drugs, natural drugs, ganja or synthetic drugs. Drugs are also mixed in chocolates and drinks. I have instructed police officials to take stringent action to eradicate all kinds of drug abuse. It is their responsibility to show results," he added.
"We will take action no matter where the drugs come from - by sea route, air or land. Right now colleges are closed, but that does not mean drug peddling has stopped.
"The chief minister held a meeting yesterday (Monday, September 7) and gave instructions that the investigation should not be restricted to Bengaluru alone. We are conducting investigations in other places as well but they do not always become news," he said.
Regarding drugs racket involving Sandalwood celebrities and related arrests, Sood said that the matter is being handled by the police commissioner of Bengaluru city. "As a police officer, it is not right on my part to comment on the case while the case is being investigated," he said.
"The state government has given us a free hand, and even given us instructions to take stringent action towards making Karnataka drugs-free. Bengaluru and Mangaluru are hubs of drug peddling," he added.
Moving on to other issues, Sood said, "Everyone in our police department, from SP to constable, has worked really hard during this pandemic, and I appreciate their efforts. Due to the coronavirus crisis, we are using technology all the more, such us conducting frequent video conferences. In the coming days we will reduce physical contact and shift towards technology-based operations. Police verification will also be done online and the process has already started. For public safety, toll number of 112 will be set up to ensure efficiency and ease of access. People should call this single number (112) in case of distress. This will be effectively implemented in the district."