State ATS has directed Nagpur Police and Food and Drug Administration to initiate steps to deter the children from the drug abuse immediately
Nagpur: In an alarming development, the Second Capital of Maharashtra has achieved a dubious distinction in narcotics and drugs abuse. A survey has found that a significant number of school children in Nagpur are addicted to narcotics and psychotropic substances as the scheduled drugs are easily available in the medicine shops. Nagpur is among the top five cities of the State where the disturbing fact has come to the fore.
According to reports, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Maharashtra has sounded alarm bells and directed Nagpur Police and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to initiate action immediately. Consumption of these medicines without doctor’s advice causes severe effects on the nervous and cardiac system, a top ranking official said. He said that the drug was being consumed by children in Nagpur, Nasik, Malegaon and some other cities of Maharashtra.
The report further said that the Mumbai headquarters of ATS has issued the warning and directed police and FDA for immediate measure. An FDA official said that all the medicine shops are being ordered to install the CCTV cameras at the counter so that the customers would be identified. Similarly, the medicine shop owners are being directed to not sell NRX, H and H1 drugs without prescription. The shop owners will also maintain a register with the entry of customers buying the scheduled drugs, the FDA official said.
According to sources, the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) of the Nagpur Crime Branch was ordered to check the medicine shops whether they are following the norms or not. The police and FDA are likely to launch a joint operation to stop the drug abuse, claimed sources.
It may be mentioned that Commissioner of Police (CP) Amitesh Kumar had told reporters on May 18, 2021 that consumption of Alprazolam tablets, a psychotropic drug, was on the rise in Nagpur.The anti-anxiety tablets are available for a meagre amount and drug-peddlers are purchasing them from medical stores. Selling the drug without prescription is a crime. However, some medical stores are doing it. These persons will also face action under NDPS Act, the CP had stated last year.
