Mangalore: Sneha case - Strict action will be taken against drug mafia, says C T Ravi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)
Update
Mangalore, Feb 4: The suicide case of Sneha (18) who was reportedly addicted to drugs has shocked the city and underscored the need to fight drug menace among youngsters.
Taking swift action in this regard, Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister C T Ravi called Kavoor police station and instructed the station house officer to take up in-depth investigation into the death of Sneha and take steps to crush the drugs mafia.
He said he would also instruct the police commissioner as well as the western range inspector general of police to take stringent steps against those peddling drugs.
The minister, addressing a press conference here on Sunday February 3, expressed serious concern about the fact that students have easy access to drugs, which denotes that the drug mafia has become deep-rooted in the region. He exuded confidence that the police department will be able snuff out the drug mafia.
Meanwhile, Sneha's father Gururaja Upadhyaya said he had not spoken against the mafia so far as he was afraid that the reputation of his family would be at stake.
“My daughter’s death should not go waste. Even if I lose my life in my battle against the drugs mafia, I will not rest. My relentless fight with drugs cartel will continue,” he stated.
He said that drugs and parties had taken over the mind of his daughter, as a result of which, she had failed to heed to advices and counseling sessions.
Earlier Report
Mangalore: Parents lose young daughter to drug abuse
Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Feb 3: Sneha (18), a resident of Padavinangadi here allegedly committed suicide by hanging in her room on Saturday February 2. The incident came to light on Sunday February 3 morning when her parents knocked on her door and did not get any response.
The main reason for her suicide is said to be her addiction to drugs, alcohol, ghutka and tobacco. Her body has been brought to Wenlock mortuary, where the post-mortem will be conducted and the body will be handed over to the family for the last rites.
A case has been registered in the Kavoor police station and investigations are on.
Speaking to media persons, her mother Sunitha Upadhya said that Sneha was persuing her education in 1st PU at Sharada Vidhyalaya last year. As they were doubtful and concerned over her behaviour and lifestyle, they began doing a regular follow-up on her whereabouts and her day-to-day movements.
"We found that she was highly addicted to drugs, alcohol, gutkha and tobacco. She has been addicted for nearly one-and-a-half years. After we came to know of her addiction, we admitted her to Spandana Hospital, Bangalore, after consultation with Father Muller and Mangala Hospitals here. She was admitted to Spandana in February 2012, where she was under treatment for 2 months. She recovered nearly 60% from her addiction and was under medication," she said.
On Saturday night, the girl demanded Rs 1500 from her mother, promising to return it at the end of this month. However, her mother refused. Angered by this, she reportedly locked herself in her room. The light in her room was switched on throughtout the night. In the morning, when her parents did not get any reponse on knocking her door, they forced it open and found her hanging by the ceiling fan.
"We had tried to lodge complaints with the police many times, but in vain. But the members of Bajrang Dal helped every time to find her out. A few months ago when she escaped from home, she was traced with the help of Bajrang Dal at Manipal End Point”, Sunitha said.
The parents said that a day after she was found in Manipal, they prohibited her from going out of the house. Sneha in turn called the police and the child welfare committee and complained that her parents had kept her under house arrest. The police and child welfare officials then advised the parents to give her treatment.
"There are a few among her friends' circle who are also addicted to drugs and also she always used to regularly visit pubs, with money taken from the house," Sunitha added.
Her father Gururaj said that she was a topper in her class upto 9th standard and later she began to lag behind in her studies. "It was then that we had a doubt on her activities. She also used to miss classes in the afternoon and attend DJ parties in hotels," he said.
“We have already lost our daughter, but let others awake and prevent such incidents in future. Let the district administration and the police department take genuine steps to prevent drug abuse among youngsters," her parents said with tears in their eyes.
Speaking to the media persons, Sharan Pumpwell, unit convenor, Bajrang Dal said while the members of Bajrang Dal have been trying to stop and prevent drug mafia, parties and DJs, some sections of the so-called intelligent people are trying to strongly oppose saying that Bajrang Dal is jobless. Let those people visit Sneha’s parents and have a look at their situation after losing their daughter to this mafia."
"If this sort of drug mafia is not restricted by the department concerned, we will take law into our hands and take stringent action, so as to prevent such incidents from recurring. Bajrang Dal will continue its fight against drug mafias," Sharan warned.