PORVORIM: Exposing the drug nexus at the Central Jail, Colvale, NCP MLA Churchill Alemao, who had been arrested in the Louis Berger case, narrated anecdotes on the floor of the House, on how inmates and the police were peddling narcotics in the premises.
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, taking serious note of the charges, assured to initiate an inquiry against the inmates and police, if the MLA could identify them.
The Chief Minister and the MLA entered into an argument over the police-drug nexus in jail, during the discussion on demand on grants for Home Department.
“When I was jailed, I requested the judge that I should be sent to Colvale jail and that I should be provided with bed and western toilet. I was given the facility. But I was not able to sleep the entire night during those three months,” Alemao said.
“During my stay in jail, I saw that 80 per cent of the inmates, majority of who were foreigners, were peddling drugs inside the premises. Police were also aware but not taking action,” he said, alleging that a few police are hand-in-glove with drug peddlers and trap innocent people in the crime. Alemao urged the government to bring discipline amongst police to get rid of drug menace.
Raising a point of order, the Chief Minister assured the House that the police officer would be suspended and action initiated against him as well as the inmates, if the MLA can identify those involved in the alleged nexus. “Should I get all police and inmates in the House for you to recognise or you would like to go to Colvale jail and see them?” the CM asked, to which the MLA said “I will go there and identify if they are still in jail.”
The MLA demanded that the government immediately deport those foreigners, who are arrested for various crime in the State.
Earlier speaking, Alemao raised serious concern about the growing number of school and college students getting addicted to drugs. “These foreigners are getting drugs in the State and our young boys and girls are getting addicted to it,” he said.
BJP MLA Glen Ticlo said the government needs to catch the kingpin in the drug trade, rather than arrest small fish.
Other MLAs urged the government to crack down on drugs to wipe out this illegal business from the State, which is giving a bad name to tourism.
