- Three persons involved in drug trade detained; released
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Bakshi Nagar Police on Thursday faced a piquant and embarrassing situation when three touts, allegedly associated to notorious drug mafia, were detained with life-saving drugs in their possession and let off immediately, as no case could be made against them.
They remained in police custody for a night after police found life saving drugs and stents in their procession.
Sources told STATE TIMES that the agents of drug mafia remain active round the clock, outside twin premier health institutions of the winter capital-Government Medical College Hospital and the Super Specialty Hospital-to find potential customers.
The menace has taken dangerous proportions, as the Drug Control Organisation (DCO), headed by a junior ranking officer (Assistant Controller) enjoying clout and political patronage despite several cases of corruption against her, is hand in glove with unscrupulous chemists and their touts for obvious reasons. The chronic mafia feels free to indulge in brazen drug trade with connivance of the DCO officials.
Deeply involved in acts of omissions and commissions, the DCO appears to have abdicated its responsibility to carry out market checks and taking out samples of milk, condiments, eatables and other edibles for verifying their quality.
Due to lack of supervision and a sort of connivance (in lieu of Hafta), the consumers are forced to take sub-standard commodities.
The bravado of the new Health Minister Bali Bhagat to crackdown the vicious circle is being openly mocked by the well organised mafia. “Action will be taken against perpetrators of the clandestine drug trade and the mafia behind it”, the minister said, adding that law will take its course.
However, police is sceptic about any likely action in the wake of deep rooted nexus between DCO and mafia. Senior officers said the police is finding itself helpless in the absence of formal complaint by the DCO. “When its officers are hand in glove with the racket, how can complaint be lodged or cognizance taken of the crime being committed brazenly”, he said.
Police says, “The special branch sleuths detained these drugs sellers from hospital and brought them to police station. There was nothing against them so we just brought the matter to the notice of DCO officers.
An insider in the DCO told STATE TIMES that given the leadership in the organisation, these unscrupulous activities cannot be stopped. “How is it possible to check the menace when Lotika Khajruia, who is holding the charge of Drugs Controller is already booked in spurious medicines case. An anti-corruption court had recently asked the Crime Branch to prosecute her for various charges of omission and commission.
Known for corruption and malpractices, the DCO came under sharp scanner when Special Judge Anticorruption Jammu A K Koul had asked the Crime Branch to seek a sanction for prosecution of Lotika Khajuria, Drug Controller, for her questionable role during being a member of Purchase Committee.
The court had found sufficient evidence on record which revealed that Lotika Khajuria’s involvement like other members of the purchase committee, who had arraigned as accused in the infamous Spurious Drug Scam. As she was left out, the court had taken exception, saying the accused (Lotika Khajuria) cannot be selectively arrayed or left out, when they are similarly placed.
On April 28, 2013, it was revealed that the spurious antibiotic drug, Maximizin-625, was supplied to two reputed hospitals of the state. And, the investigation was handed over to Crime Branch.
The offences were established against Dr Madhu Khullar, the then Director Health Services and Chairperson of the Purchase Committee, Lotika Khajuria, the then Deputy Drug Controller, Reva Gupta, the then Administrator Associated Hospitals and Joginder Kumar. However, the challan against them could not be produced for want of Government sanction for launching prosecution against them.