Surveillance stepped up on drug hotspots after youth’s death

Railway stations, bus stands, and abandoned buildings under scanner; interdistrict chain of drug pushers suspected to be behind man’s death

Excise and police squads have intensified dayandnight patrol around a number of newly identified drug hotspots at Koyilandy and Vadakara in the district following the death of a 26yearold youth allegedly due to drug overdose. Railway stations, bus stands, and a number of abandoned buildings are in the list of locations under roundtheclock surveillance.

According to Excise department sources, an interdistrict chain of drug pushers are suspected to be behind the death of the youth hailing from Koyilandy’s Kuruvangad village last week. Further investigation is required to determine whether the gang has connections with other group of youngsters in the area, they reveal.

After the police intensified flash vehicle checking on national and State highways to track suspected drug pushers following a Statelevel directive, the drug pushers are now misusing the railway network to send the consignments. As most such consignments are unescorted, the Railway Protection Force and the Government Railway Police are finding it difficult to track the carriers. Parcel services are also among the alternative options to bypass the flash inspections.

“There are a few abandoned buildings and isolated public properties including grounds where the antisocial elements and drug pushers secretly gather for their business. Only the police or the Excise department can take action, as local residents and merchants are too scared to intervene,” says V.K. Rasheed, a textile entrepreneur from Koyilandy. The number of drug addicts and drug pushers is steadily growing despite the preventive measures taken by various enforcement agencies, he adds.

According to Excise officials, efforts are under way to install closedcircuit television cameras at suspected drug hotspots with the support of local administrators. Funds will be earmarked soon after holding discussions with the people’s representatives and the heads of local bodies. Along with this, there will be initiatives to offer deaddiction treatment to identified from various locations, they add.