THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A group of students, who got intoxicated during the Onam celebrations in their college in the city, were seen trampling and attacking a girl classmate on the road. The incident took place on Friday afternoon near the Secretariat complex in the state capital. The girl in the group was seen remaining as a spectator. The group also chased away an auto driver and others who came to save the girl. The students, who lost their sense of their surroundings, spread terror in the area for about half an hour.
The younger generation, which does not even hesitate to hold drug parties in college hostels and share pictures and videos of drug use on social media, is becoming a nuisance in public streets as well.
Narcotic substances are pouring into colleges in the form of LSD stickers, marijuana packets, and injectable drugs. Teachers and management are unable to control the situation. A few days ago, the entire state was disturbed to hear the loud cries of a girl who was caught with MDMA in Thodupuzha.
The drug mafia, which has enslaved some students by providing drugs for free, is turning them into carriers and peddlers of drugs to provide drugs to their classmates. It has become a common occurrence that students, who are under the influence of drugs, end up creating law and order problems. Many such students are also being used for crimes. The drug mafia has also infiltrated engineering and medical colleges. There are even secret centres in several hostels to keep cannabis.
Strong action required
The government gas to take strong legal action to eradicate the drug menace on campuses. Taking into account the editorial published by Kerala Kaumudi on March 21, 2019, and the letter of former Kottayam District Police Chief N Ramachandran, the High Court had ordered the introduction of a special police system to prevent the use and distribution of drugs on campuses. Although the UDF government thought of a campus police system, it stopped midway. Although former Home Secretary TK Jose had issued an order to set up virtual police and excise units and test students using drug test kits, nothing materialised.
In the last one and a half years, 3933 people under the age of 21 were sent to de-addiction centres. 40 per cent of them are under 18 years of age.
Cases
Arrest
Drugs seized this year