SURAJ NANDREKAR
PANJIM: Over a year after Herald broke the story of drug trade near a school in Siolim, the villagers of Verla-Canca have taken note of drug menace in their locality.
Herald on its edition of August 25, 2017 had reported “Meters away from a school in Siolim drugs are sold in a shop”. Despite the report neither police nor any other authorities took any action.
But villagers have now realised that the menace has taken deep roots in the area and the matter was debated at the recent gram sabha.
The panchayat of Verla Canca has written to the Director General of Police, Anti Narcotics Cell and the Superintendent North for quick action on the drugs trade. Besides, the panchayat has now said that the illicit trade is operating with the blessings of the local police.
“In the recently held gram panchayat, based on a complaint from one Vijay Redkar and others, a resolution was passed that the concerned authorities are to be informed of the narcotics trade which is being carried out around the premises of the school and others in Naika Waddo, Canca, mainly by Nigerians and other peddlers,” says a letter signed by Sarpanch Milton Marques.
The letter further states that an oral complaint has also been sent to the panchayat by the school authorities about this rampant drug menace which is destroying the name of the village as the student community is being targeted and seems like this is happening with the blessings of the police.
“I am enclosing the copy of the proposal submitted for discussion in the gram sabha meeting and the resolution of the gram sabha for immediate action to arrest the culprits and to undertake surveillance in and around Verla Canca village and particularly the village of Parra where these Nigerians are residing,” the letter states.
Quoting a source, Herald last August had reported that meters away from school near the lake there is a small shop and many boys and girls of the school are seen smoking, drinking and consuming drugs. Sources had said that they had asked for police help at various times but there was no action.
A teacher of the school, speaking to Herald, on condition of anonymity said that accusing the children or police or politicians will not help and all educated people must come together to fight the menace. “If one body can be formed of politicians, educationists, doctors, engineers and journalists etc and work in this regard I think we can make a big difference,” he says.
