Karnataka to invoke Goonda Act against drug peddlers

Bangalore, Feb 6 (PTI) The Karnataka government today said it has decided to book drug peddlers under the stringent Goonda Act to check the narcotic menace. Replying to a debate in the Legislative Council on the growing menace of narcotic in the state, Home Minister R Ashoka said a meeting of officials of Home Department and Education would be convened in about ten days to discuss the measures in this regard. Narcotic substances were being smuggled into Karnataka from Goa, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Delhi, he said and noted that 955 cases have so far been registered and 1,588 arrested. JDS leader M C Nanaiah and others drew the government's attention to the drug peddlers and demanded that stringent action be taken against them. Nanaiah said the drug mafia had established a wider network in the state and urged that the government set apart Rs 100 crore funds to check the drug peddlers. PTI MSR BH VS KAS TRK