Number of drug peddlers on rise in state, says Parsekar

PORVORIM: While CM Laxmikant Parsekar on Tuesday accepted that the state has witnessed an increase in the number of drug peddlers, Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida alleged that drugs in the state were being sold in connivance with police officials.
Parsekar replied in the affirmative to Calangute MLA Michael Lobo’s query during Question Hour as to whether the government was aware about the increase in the number of drug peddlers in the state.
The BJP legislator from Vasco said police turn a blind eye towards sale of narcotics in the port town though locations at which drugs are sold are common knowledge.
“Drugs are easily available in educational institutions and police are hand in glove with drug peddlers. Everybody knows that drugs are easily available. I am not naming the educational institutions, but I know drugs are available,” Almeida said.
Saying that he views the drug problem as a serious one, the CM said directions have been given to officers to take strict action.
According to statistics tabled by the home ministry in the ongoing monsoon session of the assembly, 54 cases were booked in 2014 under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 62 cases in 2015 and 21 in 2016
Parsekar also said that he suspected that foreign nationals often commit minor offences only to ensure that they can stay on in Goa and deal in drugs until the long judicial process is over. He added that the government was trying to identify a detention centre to lodge foreigners, arrested in cases but out on bail, so that the police can keep them under watch.
“The beat staff of police stations concerned are directed to conduct frequent checking, in their respective jurisdiction, of guest houses and other places where foreign nationals are staying on rent and to verify whether they hold valid visa and passport to stay in India,” Parsekar said.
“Surprise random checks are also carried out for checking legal document of foreigners,” the CM added.
In another question, Aldona MLA Glenn Ticlo urged the government to hasten the commissioning of the forensic laboratory, as it will help expedite trials.
Goa public service commission (GPSC) has initiated the process of conducting interviews to recruit staff for the forensic laboratory being set-up at Verna, Parsekar said, and added, “I also want the forensic lab to be started as early as possible, and process needs to be expedited.”