Karnataka will have basic FSL labs in every district to fight drug menace: Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai

Karnataka aims to set up basic Forensic Science Laboratories (FSL) in all districts while upgring six regional labs in a year's time for speedy disposal of drug-related cases, Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai said on Tuesday.

ting that gambling, hookah bars, drug consumption, crime, and illegal arms are all inter-connected, he said action at ground level and strong legislations, are being worked out to control it.

Asserting government's strong commitment against menace, minister also said syntic drugs like lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) have become more rampant se days, with over 5,000 strips being seized this year alone so far.

"After our government came to power, we have declared a war against drugs, t only ganja but all kinds of narcotic substances have been seized from across state and cases have been booked and charge sheets filed," Bommai said.

Listing number of cases booked under NDPS act since 2017, in response to a question during question hour in legislative assembly, he said, till vember 30 this year 3,852 cases have been booked.

Out of se, charge sheets have been filled in 2,285 cases and among m, in 233 cases punishment has been fixed, while remaining are under investigation.

minister was responding to a question by Congress MLA Eshwar Khandre on delay in getting FSL reports with respect to drug cases and leing to delay in filing charge sheets.

Conceding re is a "bottleneck" on getting timely reports from FSL in drug-related cases, Bommai said FSL lab has been modernized by using vanced techlogy to dress this and more than 51 samples can be tested at a time, and a dedicated section for narcotics has been set up.

In days to come, more and more cases will be investigated and charge sheets filed, he said.

Region FSL labs or than Bengaluru like Kalaburagi, Mangaluru, Mysuru, Hubballi-Dharw, and Belagavi will be upgred in six months for quick delivery of reports in drug-related cases.

"As a second phase by setting aside money in upcoming budget, our aim is to have a basic lab in all districts and experts lab at regional level, we will set m up in a year's time," he ded.

Responding to a question on recreation clubs in border districts engaging in drug-related activities and gambling, Bommai said it has come to government's tice and "we are taking merciless action against m. 

"re is compromise, re has been eugh pressure from all angles and from all kinds of people, but we have t and will t budge to it," he said.

Instructions have alrey been given to bring in necessary amendments to Karnataka Police act to make gambling a punishable offense, he said.

minister said NDPS Act is a central act by Parliament and any amendments to it have to be done re.

But states have right to frame rules while implementing Act, as re is some lacuna in current rules restricting investigating officers, he claimed.

We are getting it removed for encouraging swift action, seizure, and raids, and rules will be changed very soon.

 Department officials have also discussed with National Law School to bring in a comprehensive law against drugs, to recommend to center or to state, he said, ding that a strong law will be brought against drugs soon.

Replying to issues raised by Congress MLA Pras Abbayya, Bommai said, French polish, whitener and certain hesives are being misused by some,and action taken.

We will take stricter measures on this.

 To a question by BJP MLA Nndra, he said, government has also been taking action against hookah bars by conducting raids, as he sought cooperation by local corporations while giving license.

minister said foreigners like some Nigerian nationals involved in drug-related activities have been booked under Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT NDPS) Act under which re is stringent compulsory jail. Many have even been extrited.

More than ganja, syntic drugs like LSD se days are more rampant as y come in small strips of 1-1.5mm costing about Rs 2,500, he said.

This year 5,049 strips were seized while last year it was 155 and previous year 200 or 100 strips, Bommai ted.

Rave parties used to be fashion, but due to swift action and raids, it has created fear and realization about criminal activities that go on re, he said, as he promised Khandre to take necessary action against some forest officials growing ganja in Bidar, following MLA's complaint.

(IM CREDITS:Twitter/@BSBommai)