E-Paper
Drugged in city of temples
IT WAS only recently the Narcotics Control Bureau?s (NCB) local office nabbed a man Vakil Ahmad and recovered 1.60 kg brown sugar from him. The incident occurred in Lallapura under the Sigra police station. The Lallapura occurrence where contraband was caught is not an isolated one in the city of temples, Varanasi. Time and again, such instances have come to light where drug peddlers have run into rough weather with the cops or the NCB officials.
IT WAS only recently the Narcotics Control Bureau’s (NCB) local office nabbed a man Vakil Ahmad and recovered 1.60 kg brown sugar from him. The incident occurred in Lallapura under the Sigra police station.
The Lallapura occurrence where contraband was caught is not an isolated one in the city of temples, Varanasi. Time and again, such instances have come to light where drug peddlers have run into rough weather with the cops or the NCB officials.
Instances like these are a sad commentary on the fact that a city like Varanasi, more famous for its spiritual environment, is now acquiring a reputation for being a hub for contraband. This trade is only thriving due to the involvement of locals and unauthorised street guides.
This is how the trade works.
Foreign tourists, come to this ‘narco paradise’ to uplift their spirits as they are bored with the fast life in their own native countries. They come on tourist visas (usually for a period of three to six months) which are a cheaper option.
Many even after the expiry of their visas, go to Nepal to get them extended to stay in India. Elite tourists stay in star hotels just for two days and on the third day, they depart for New Delhi, Mumbai or Kathmandu. Vacationers coming from middle and lower income groups prefer to stay for weeks and months in different lodges situated on Ganga banks where the stay of Indian tourists is restricted by lodge managers.
Once the visitors settle here, they then focus their attention to acquire the contraband. As these travellers are aware, they turn towards the major ghats in the city and nearby areas where small lodges are situated. These localities are fertile ground for supplying the drugs and, therefore, these areas are under severe grip of addiction.
Illegal trade in brown sugar known as heroin has been flourishing in these areas for the last two decades. Many locals and unauthorised guides mix with foreigners and sell them what these buyers want, albeit stealthily.
It is also surprising to note that drug peddling has succeeded due to patronage given by white-collar employees.
The most common contraband being supplied on the ghats is heroin. However, cocaine is not in demand here as it is very expensive. Sale of ganja is only allowed by the Excise Department from its licensed shops but it is also sold to foreigners by touts. It is snorted through cigarettes and chillams.
Most lodge owners earn their income through the illegal supply of narcotics to their foreign guests. The setting up of a lodge facilitates the movement of the peddlers.
Although the police have arrested peddlers from time to time, the trade is still flourishing. The police say they have more challenging tasks to tackle, so solving the drug peddling problem is not high on their list of priorities.
Thus, the NCB is solely entrusted with the responsibility of checking this illegal trade.
