Drugs sold outside education institutes, need to tackle it: Parsekar

Panaji, Aug 9: Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar today said he has come to know about drugs being sold outside reputed educational institutes in the state, and said the government is taking steps to tackle the menace.

"It is high time that we should act against the sale of drugs. I have heard that such things are going on outside the educational institutes, it is happening outside some of the most reputed educational institutes," Parsekar said in the state Assembly, replying to a question by BJP MLA Carlose Almeida.

"Drugs are sold in small kiosks or even by some taxi operators outside the educational institutions. I have already spoken to police. We need to tackle this menace. Our youth will be destroyed if this continues," the chief minister said.

Parsekar said when Almeida had asked a written question before the start of the Assembly session, there was not a single case of drug peddling reported in Vasco town for last three years.

"But when the question was taken for reply from the (police) department, within three days two cases were registered. I know it cannot be a coincidence that during last three years there was no case and suddenly two cases were registered in three days," he said.

Almeida had alleged that police were hand in glove with drug peddlers in Vasco city. The CM said he has asked the police to be strict in dealing with the drug menace. "I am taking it as an important task for the state of Goa," he said.

PTI