IIT-K bans pan masala, cigarettes on its campus

KANPUR: Following the revelation that the number of IIT-Kanpur students addicted to drugs has continued to swell over the past few months, the premier institute has taken a tough stand and banned cigarettes, pan masala and intoxicants on the campus.

The institute, which earlier found 25 students addicted to drugs, recently discovered that the figure was around 100.

In the notice banning cigarettes, pan masala etc, the institute has made it clear that anyone found flouting the ban would be subjected to serious disciplinary action. To get to the core of the drug menace, the institute has tasked senior faculty members to find out the source of drug supply, besides putting some employees and security guards under the scanner. The institute has received complaints about ‘shady activities’ of certain employees and guards.

The faculty members have been asked to carry out the investigation secretly.

Dr Manindra Agarwal, acting director of IIT-Kanpur, said making the campus free of drugs was his priority and he would not hesitate in taking tough action.

On the other hand, the institute has sought help of the city administration in plugging the supply route. It also plans counselling of the drug addicted students and their parents would be made part of the process.

In the ‘operation clean-up’,

raids were conducted at pharmacies and some shops around the institute. The raiding teams, led by drug inspectors Arvind Gupta and Ejaz Gupta, examined the stocks and registers of the pharmacies.

District magistrate Surendra Singh had asked the food and drug administration (FDA) to conduct searches following complaints that the pharmacies were selling certain banned drugs unlawfully. Two pharmacies have been issued show-cause notices as their pharmacists were found missing.