Excise Dept to hold meeting with school managements on July 14

The Prohibition and Excise Department will conduct a meeting with the principals and correspondents of 80 schools on July 14 to sensitize them on drug abuse by the school children in the city.

The move comes after the department discovered that many students from 26 schools and 27 colleges have turned into drug abusers. The department had already sent advisory notices to these educational institutions.

In the letter, Director of Prohibition and Excise Akun Sabharwal urged the principals of schools and colleges to sensitise teachers and students on the affects of substance abuse. 

He advised them to watch out for erratic or deviant behaviour in students, scrutinise the surroundings of the school and



also to monitor easy availability of cash and debit or credit cards with the students. Meanwhile, the department has arrested one more peddler identified as Brendon Ben, who runs an event management company. With this, the number of arrests had gone up to eight in the drugs case.

According to Akun Sabharwal, the apprehended eight persons were drug pushers, dealers or vendors. He said the department had not arrested any user or consumer though it is an offense.He said a toll free number 1800 425 2523 had been set up on which people can pass on information regarding drugs without any fear since the names would be kept confidential. He also said videos were being made to create awareness against substance abuse.