Headlines
Kerala vows not to spare any drug traffickers
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 1
The Kerala
government Sunday said national and international drug mafia rings are
looking at the state as a "fertile ground" for their operations and
pledged not to spare anyone involved in drug trafficking.
The
government's reaction came a day after Malayalam actor Shine Tom Chacko
and four women were taken into custody in Kochi for possessing cocaine
valued at Rs.1 million in international market.
"National and
even international drug mafia are looking towards Kerala as a fertile
ground for their operations. We are putting up a strong fight against
such elements and we will not spare anyone who is part of this," Home
Minister Ramesh Chennithala told IANS.
The mafia rings are eyeing Kerala because of its tourist potential, he added.
Chennithala said his ministry was going ahead with conducting massive awareness campaigns in educational institutions.
"We
have already launched a massive campaign 'Safe Campus Clean Campus' and
it is a two-pronged strategy which includes awareness and police
action. What we saw yesterday (Saturday) was police action and this will
continue very strongly. Law breakers will be taken to task," the
minister said.
"Last week, we got together 60,000 students in
Kollam district as part of our awareness drive in our fight against all
forms of substance abuse. Similar programmes would be held in all
districts," he said.
B. Unnikrishnan, a director and general
secretary of the Film Employees Federation of Kerala, told IANS that
what happened with the arrest of the actor should not be taken to
generalise issues.
"I do not think there is any need for even a
caution because we have a very responsible film industry. One stray case
has happened and it's too early from any quarter to make sweeping
statements about the film industry here," said Unnikrishnan.