Colleges in denial mode; don’t want drug raids on campuses

Even while the anti-narcotics cell (ANC) caught several students consuming drugs last week, most principals deny that any such illegal activities are being carried out in their college campuses.

Even while the anti-narcotics cell (ANC) caught several students consuming drugs last week, most principals deny that any such illegal activities are being carried out in their college campuses.

HT Image

ANC officials claim that most educational institutions are afraid to allow policemen on their campus, as they are afraid of “tarnishing their reputation”.

“We want to visit campuses to create awareness on problems related to drug abuse. But we are facing stiff resistance from principals and college authorities,” said an ANC officer, requesting anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

For instance, during the anti-narcotics week in June, the ANC approached several educational institutes for permission to conduct awareness programmes. “It was an arduous task to get permission to even conduct such campaigns,” said the officer.

He added, “Many colleges in the western suburbs did not allow us inside their campuses claiming that their students were from literate and affluent backgrounds and hence didn’t do drugs. They feared that it would tarnish their reputation.”

Not only for awareness campaigns, ANC officials said they were often held back even when they received tip-offs. “We sometimes get information about specific persons possessing banned substances. But if we enter the college premise and fail to find the drug in possession of any student, it becomes difficult as the authorities threaten to sue us,” said the officer. VB Deshmukh, deputy commissioner of police, ANC, said, “All regional units of the ANC are focused on the crackdown on rising consumption among the youths. We are covering all major colleges in the city, and would act against anybody found guilty.”

Deshmukh, however, cleared that action would be taken against habitual offenders. “Students with no past cases will be counselled,” he said.