Ramesh Chennithala, Kerala's Home Minister,stressed Friday that migrant workers should not be scapegoated for drug problems in Perumbavoor. At public meeting tied to police's statewide anti-drug push,Operation Toofan: The Narco Hunt,he cautioned that locals too are knee-deep in drug trafficking.
Chennithala noted that while many drug users in Perumbavoor are guest workers,Keralites have dabbled in drug peddling, using migrant presence as cover. "Some local people have found drug peddling to be an attractive business. The police are after them," he said,urging a broad approach to tackle this issue.
Launching the Toofan Jagaran awareness rally in Perumbavoor, Chennithala spoke of government's pledge to safeguard and develop the town,often called country's plywood capital. "Our aim is to free Perumbavoor from being tagged hub of drugs," he declared.
Since operation began, police have logged 5,260 cases under the NDPS Act,arresting 5,634 people in just month. Chennithala also said around 70 have been steered toward rehab programs .
Responding to concerns about how easily many arrested get bail,Minister revealed Chalakudy MP Benny Behanan is tasked with closing legislative gaps in NDPS Act in Parliament. Chennithala also announced a special task force for drug-related cases.
On July 10, state police chief Ravada Chandrasekhar will meet with counterparts from neighboring states to plan against cross-border drug smuggling. Chennithala's remarks come as scrutiny on drug networks in region intensifies.
After the meeting,Minister visited Bhai Colony,a migrant worker settlement,engaging with residents and giving ‘Toofan Warrior’ badges to migrant representatives. He also led anti-drug pledge in Hindi,boosting the initiative's reach.
Chennithala's words underscore that Perumbavoor's drug woes aren't just migrant-related,highlighting need for unified fight against narcotics involving both locals and migrants…
