DRUGS: WHO ISRESPONSIBLE?

 

 

 

There is only one question to be asked of all -- the Police, the Narcotics control agencies, the political leadership, and of course the society at large: Who is responsible for the drug menace that has already caused terrible damage to countless lakhs of young people across the country? And this question becomes all the more pronounced nearer home in Nagpur that has already become a hub for the illicit and criminal drug trade. So the question again: Who is responsible for the drug menace? As ‘The Hitavada’ concludes the current series of investigative articles exposing the illicit drug trade and related crime in Nagpur and Central India, it wishes to make an honest confession -- that almost every bit of information that ‘The Hitavada’ staffers have gathered and presented in the reportage came from official agencies. This brings us to a clear conclusion that the official agencies -- all of them -- know everything about the illicit and criminal drug business; and that they have all the names of all the drug lords; and that they know the full details of the entire web of big numbers of drug distribution networks and channels almost everywhere. ... So the question again: Who is to be held responsible for spreading of this unholy, dark and criminal business of drugs in our society? As ‘The Hitavada’ Reporters proceeded systematically gathering every bit of information about the illicit drug trade, their main source was official agencies. Very little of the ‘info’ came from other sources.

 

The Reporters came to believe that the official agencies -- the Police and the narcotic control outfits -- are in full possession of all the details. So, the question came up: Why don’t those official agencies act tough to not just control the dirty, ugly, unholy business of narcotics and similar substances running into several hundred crores annually? As the Reporters raised this question, one source said in a hushed tone, ‘Look, the drug business is not limited only to several hundred crore rupees annually in Central India where Nagpur forms a hub. It runs into a couple of thousand crores, if not more.’ That statement (duly fudged to protect the source) makes it obvious that if the official agencies decide to do so, they can put a candid brake on the criminally-oriented drug trade. Then, why don’t they do that? ‘The Hitavada’, thus, is fully aware of what the official agencies know and to what extent. As it proceeded with the series of investigative reports on dirty business of drugs, its staffers realised that there is a clear unwillingness to take the tough step and initiate a terminal action against drug lords. Of course, ‘The Hitavada’ is also conscious that if such a tough action is really taken in a no-holds-barred manner, then what will follow may even be like a mini-war between the criminal underworld and the official agencies.

 

But, not for the undesirable sensation of such a possibility, but for the pursuance of genuine concern, ‘The Hitavada’ asks the question once again: Why not take the tough step? Thus comes another natural question: Is there a political patronage to the illicit and criminal drug business? Did the political community ever hold itself responsible for defeating the illicit drug business? And we must also raise this issue with the people -- the larger society. Is it not the people’s duty as well to protect their youngsters from the terrible menace of drugs? Is it also not the responsibility of the schools and colleges to try their hardest to keep the young generations safe from the drugs? Do they really make any focused attempt in that regard? Or, worse still, are they even aware of the vulnerability of their youngsters in this regard? Whose moral responsibility is it to keep the youngsters safe from drug addiction? As we conclude the series with these questions, we make an earnest appeal to our readers to offer their response not just to our forthright journalism, but also to the terrible issue of drugs menacing the society in an unbridled manner. (Concludes) n