PONDA
If you believe the menace of narcotics is restricted to the coastal area of the State, think again. Such has been the concern over the rampant use and trade of narcotics in Ponda taluka that people have openly blamed police for their inaction to arrest the drug peddlers, while police have, in turn, pointed fingers at parental negligence in controlling their children.
Residents have begun to press the panic button following recent events in Ponda taluka. In one such incident, schoolboys from a village were found consuming ganja. According to reports, one school boy while under the influence of alcohol uploaded a photo of his eight friends who had consumed ganja on social media. But as news of this picture spread in the village, the students immediately removed the photo.
A few days later, two boys riding a motorcycle lost their lives when they were knocked down by a speeding motorcyclist at Talaulim-Ponda. The residents strongly suspected that the speeding motorcyclist was under the influence of narcotics.
Their doubts were further strengthened when the police declined demands from residents for a medical test on the motorcycle rider, on grounds that there was an absence of required technical staff in the hospital.
Unhappy over lax measures by police in tackling the narcotics trade in Ponda taluka, concerned residents of Talaulim, led by its sarpanch Dilesh Gaonkar, recently submitted a memorandum to Ponda police to demand action against the drug peddlers supplying narcotics to school and college students. The residents even identified some isolated places, where the youth have been sighted consuming narcotics and liquor.
Kavlem Sarpanch Rajesh Kavlekar along with all panchayat members also met Ponda Police Inspector C L Patil to seek his intervention in investigating those youth who are frequently seen in isolated places at night.
According to Ponda Councillor Venktesh Naik, ganja is grown in neighbouring States, from where it is supplied to Goa.
“The situation is such that some schoolgirls are also under the influence of drugs. When one student in the group gets addicted, he involves the others. Students buy cigarettes, replace the tobacco with Ganja and consume it,” said Naik. “The police must keep a watch on small shops and gaddas near school and college premises. Besides, some sweet marts run by migrants on high rent should also be checked. Parents cannot only blame the police. If they care for their children, the parents should not have allowed them to stay out of home till late night,” the councillor added.
Viraj Sapre insisted that the police cannot abdicate its responsibility on the crackdown of narcotics. “If the police start claiming that parents have the duty to control their children, what is the use of having policemen and police stations,” asked Sapre. “Should parents and people start taking law into their hands? And would there not be trouble and danger if parents or residents confront drug gangs?”
Rejecting allegations that the police were unable to stop the narcotics menace in Ponda taluka, Ponda DySP Dinraj Govekar also blamed the parents for their failure in controlling their children.
“Some parents provide huge amounts of pocket money, mobile phones and two-wheelers to their children. These parents are least bothered if their children misuse the pocket money and gadgets. Anti-social elements take advantage of such children and get them hooked into drugs,” said DySP Govekar.
“If one boy from the group gets addicted, it takes little time for the entire group to get drawn into narcotics. Parents should be cautious while providing extra money, motorbikes, mobiles and other gadgets. In any case, we will conduct a police-public meeting shortly to highlight the problem,” he said.
Added Ponda Police Inspector C L Patil, “During police patrolling, we have found some youth at isolated places during the night. The best way to curb such activities is for residents and parents to alert the police if narcotics is either traded or consumed in their area.”
