Drug users take over vacant plot
For more than a year now, Sapthagiri Nagar, a recently formed locality in
Valasarawakkam, has become a favourite place for drug users
. The police, it is
alleged, look the other way after collecting “mamool.” A CBSE school is situated in one corner of the locality off the Arcot Road while the remaining part is full of vacant plots of land.
According to the residents in nearby Ganapathy Nagar and Jay Garden, several groups have been using the land. Some assemble there to consume liquor while others, mainly in the age group of 25-35 , have been regularly using the place to consume ganja and heroin.
“They assemble here every evening and stay back till midnight; sometimes, they are in the locality till early morning. Policemen, who are supposed to check such sort of activities, come here often only to collect money from the gang. Earlier , only two or three persons came here and took drugs. But, of late, about 20 youth, most of them in twowheelers and cars, have been frequenting the place,'’ said a resident of Jay Garden.
Some residents said that last week, a student playing cricket found a few packets containing ganja and heroin . “During Sundays, the place is full of boys from nearby areas playing cricket . We are apprehensive that more youth could become influenced by the drug users. But not many of us dare to question them since the police themselves are supporting the illegal activity by taking bribe from them,'’ said an auto driver on Arcot Road. Many shopkeepers on Arcot Road want the police to immediately trace out and arrest those who are selling ganja and heroin to the group.
When contacted, Porur police said they had received complaints over the phone saying that some people were misusing the place. The police said: “Whenever we go for rounds to nearby Lakshmi Nagar whether during the day or night, we also go to Sapthagiri Nagar and we drive away the people who are sitting there.'’
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