Police identify spots of drug abuse in Hisar universities

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, July 11

A drive against drugs by the police has come as a shocker for three universities here, as it has exposed spots on the campuses suspected to be the hub of drug addicts.

The police investigation led to a trail of leftovers of drug abuse at several spots in Haryana Agricultural University (HAU), Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (LUVAS) (both universities have a common campus) and Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology (GJUST).

The police have released photographs of suspected spots in the three universities. The leftovers of silver paper, candles, lighters, syringes, wrappers of banned drugs and empty bottles can be seen in the photographs.

The police today formed teams for cracking down on drug peddlers and addicts. “The teams will have to submit reports after every two to three days,” SP Rajender Kumar Meena told The Tribune.

The Special Task Force (STF) led by Sub-Inspector Mahender Singh raided several spots, including universities and localities, and found leftovers indicating prevalence of drug menace in the town, said a police spokesperson.

The SP said the police found leftovers near a veterinary hospital and a horse riding school in HAU, abandoned rooms in GJUST, and some spots in Industrial Area Phase 3. “We could not detain persons, as the spots were identified during a combing operation. But definitely, addicts are young who go to colleges and universities,” Meena said.

The universities ruled out drug menace on the campuses. They claimed there could be some outsiders who “used” secluded places on the campuses for their activities.

Sandeep Singh, Proctor at the GJUST, said they had no report of involvement of any student in drug menace. “The spots identified by the police are closer to the boundary wall. It seems some anti-social elements entered the campus by scaling the wall. The wall will be raised and fenced with wire,” he said.

Atul Dhingra, HAU spokesperson, expressed surprise over the police investigation. “The university’s teaching and non-teaching staff keep tabs on every student. Moreover, since the university is closed for summer vacations and will open on August 1, it’s impossible that students can be involved in this. Nevertheless, vigil on the campus has been stepped up.”