Stringent legal measures required to check drug menace, says M.V. Govindan
Communist Party of India (Marxist) State secretary M.V. Govindan said here on Wednesday that stringent legal measures should be taken against those involved in the sale and distribution of narcotic substances.
'As per existing laws, those caught with a small quantity of such illegal substances get bail immediately. An introspection is required on whether the laws needed to be strengthened to ensure strong action against those involved in the sale and distribution of drugs,' he said in his inaugural address at the 'Janakeeya sabha' organised by the party here in connection with the human wall protest being planned in 15 centres in Ernakulam against the drug menace on June 10.
He said that the seizure of drugs by enforcement agencies alone would not help in cracking down on the illegal rackets involved in the sale of narcotic substances. They have to be prosecuted and corrective measures initiated to avoid such incidents in the future, he said.
Mr. Govindan said that the fight against the drug menace should be above political differences as a joint effort was required to save the youth of the State from the health crisis triggered by the use of drugs. Public involvement remained crucial in anti-drug campaigns as they could help in alerting excise and police personnel about such illegal activities, he said.
He said that schools and colleges should be brought under the campaign as spots close to the educational institutions were used for the sale of drugs. 'We should also focus on a serious campaign to spread awareness about the ill-effect of drug use,' he said.
M.K. Sanoo, critic, and Siby Malayil, filmmaker, attended the programme.
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