10 students test positive for drug use in Mangaluru college checks

Mangaluru: Mangaluru Police Commissioner Sudhir Kumar Reddy on Saturday revealed that 10 students tested positive for drug consumption during intensified inspections carried out in local colleges over the past one-and-a-half months. The move comes as part of the city police’s crackdown on narcotics among students and the general public.

College inspections reveal drug use

Addressing a press conference at the Commissioner’s office, Reddy said that 113 colleges across Dakshina Kannada have voluntarily come forward for regular drug testing. Acting on complaints and suspicions, police conducted inspections in 40 institutions. In these checks, 10 students were found positive for drug use, and necessary legal and disciplinary action was initiated against them.

He added that police have introduced QR codes in all colleges to help students and staff anonymously report drug supply or consumption. This initiative has already led to several actionable complaints, allowing police to track down offenders.

Public checks and peddler arrests

Apart from campus inspections, police also intensified public checks. Over the last six weeks, more than 1,200 people were tested in various locations, and 478 individuals were found positive for drug consumption.

Reddy highlighted that in the past three months alone, police arrested 73 drug peddlers, of whom 37 remain in judicial custody. Last year, police had arrested 160 drug suppliers, while this year’s tally so far has reached 132.

Seizures and NDPS cases

The Commissioner provided detailed statistics of narcotics-related operations:

• 2023: 713 NDPS cases registered, 948 arrests made, and drugs worth ₹1.71 crore seized.

In the past three days alone, police nabbed four drug peddlers and seized 2.5 kg of ganja.

“These figures reflect both the scale of the drug menace and the seriousness with which police are tackling the issue,” Reddy remarked.

Appeal for public cooperation

Commissioner Reddy urged citizens to cooperate by sharing information on drug use and supply. “We are committed to keeping colleges and public spaces free from narcotics. The QR code initiative is one step in ensuring that complaints are quickly addressed,” he said.

Traffic fine collection drive

In addition to the anti-drug measures, police also reported significant results from a special traffic fine drive. Between August 23 and September 12, a scheme allowing violators to clear pending fines at a 50% discount encouraged 42,600 offenders to settle their dues. A total of ₹1.07 crore was collected within the Mangaluru Police Commissionerate limits.

Reddy said the initiative not only helped ease the backlog of unpaid fines but also served as a reminder for motorists to adhere to traffic rules.

Conclusion

With heightened inspections, increased arrests, and public reporting tools, Mangaluru police are ramping up their fight against narcotics while simultaneously improving traffic compliance. Commissioner Reddy stressed that sustained cooperation from the public will be crucial in curbing both drug abuse and traffic violations in the city.