The vast Goa Engineering College (GEC) campus isn’t just a place that holds good for education; it is also infamous for the nefarious activities that take place in the premises. Years ago, a small time kiosk was the hotspot for youth from the Ponda Education Society and GVM college to smoke cigarettes while sipping on ‘chai’. The recent raid by the anti-narcotic cell and Crime branch officials at the GEC campus and hostel and their seizure of narcotics has revealed a much darker underbelly than just a few puffs of cigarettes.
The curse of the narcotics which was earlier restricted to just the coastal belt has now percolated to the hinterland and in places like Ponda. “It is now fashion for college students to do drugs, especially those who are away from their families and living in hostels who fall prey to it much more easily,” a senior police officer, formerly attached to the ANC said.
Back in the 1990s, unsuspecting Nepalis, Nigerians and other foreigner were the carriers and suppliers of these narcotics. That was when locals weren’t ‘into’ the drug trade. The situation at present is different as youth in casual clothing with a shoulder bag could be carrying narcotics. “Whom do we check? Can we stop every college going youth?” the officials questioned.
Narcotics trades blossomed due to buyers in the form of gullible tourists, but it has now spread far and wide. Tourists looking for some fun in Goa are always customers. “Tourists aren’t constant buyers. Hence, the focus has shifted to students who don’t mind spending a few thousands to have some fun,” the officials said.
Many shops and kiosks outside college campuses across the state are slowly becoming narcotics dens. It is not that all shops located outside colleges are a source of drugs, but a lot of them prefer the drug trade to make a quick buck.
Herald travelled to a college inside Panjim to interact with students. “All narcotics aren’t bad. Some give you a light high, like the kind you get after consuming alcohol. Some western countries have made drugs legal,” an eleventh grade student said, confirming that he has stayed away from it and that he has information from his peer group.
College managements seem to be in the dark over this mushrooming issue. National Students Union of India (NSUI) recently demanded that there should be a college level committee to make students aware about the consequences of using drugs but the state government hasn’t reacted to the demand.
“The parents face a denial syndrome. Even if they know that their child is doing drugs, they try to hide it and feel that their ward will get over it in some time,” a councillor said.
NGOs like Kripa Foundation are working towards rehabilitating youth who are addicted.
“A significant fact is that a child as young as 15 years is doing drugs. That was never seen before in Goa. This can be attributed to a change in lifestyle,” the councillor went on to say.
Parents nowadays are usually away from their children longer and are adapting a western lifestyle. Due to this, the child looks for opportunities to do something more ‘fun’ and ends up falling in the trap.
One of the councilors working with HIV patients attributed curiosity as the main reason. “The first time, it is curiosity to do something different. Peer pressure also always plays a huge role,” he noted.
Experts in the field said that curbing the habit of smoking can cut down on the usage of drugs. The thin-staffed ANC which has been concentrating on the coastal belt are now focusing attention to the hinterlands and colleges.
A couple of years ago, the police were shocked when they found that a security guard of a reputed college in Mapusa was stocking and supplying drugs to students. The arrest was made, exposing a new trend in campuses.
Police officials now claim that they keep watch over the kiosks situated around educational institutions where students spend the major part of their day. It is unfortunate that a college bag which is supposed to carry books is used to traffic drugs.
Herald investigations across various college revealed that a few members of the police were also involved in the trade. What’s worse is that the trade is getting political protection. The free flow of narcotics is attributed to the patronage it receives from the police and lawmakers in particular areas.
