Latest news with #ExciseDepartment
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Karnataka ex-servicemen raise alarm over fake military liquor; call for excise dept action, urge protection for legitimate users
The District Ex-Servicemen Association seeks action against fake military liquor. They want to ensure genuine users face no supply issues MADIKERI: The District Ex-Servicemen Association has called for action against fake military-branded liquor while ensuring legitimate users face no disruption in supply. The onus is on the Excise Department to prevent any fraudulent activities. Retired Major General B.A. Cariappa, President of the association, and retired Major Odiyanda S. Chingappa, Secretary, highlighted that the district has over 8,000 ex-servicemen and their dependents. They clarified that the consumption of military liquor at gatherings involving service personnel and their dependents remains acceptable. However, they emphasised the need for departmental intervention against fake military-branded liquor distribution. They affirmed that ex-servicemen sharing their allocated liquor with family and relatives is permissible. The association maintains that ex-servicemen should not engage in selling liquor from their facilities, supporting enforcement actions in such instances. They confirmed their intention to communicate these guidelines to their members. A recent association meeting at their Madikeri office, led by President Cariappa, addressed several issues, including the delay in conducting soldiers' Adalat. The association requested an immediate meeting under the district minister's leadership. The meeting also discussed the requirement for a community hall and land allocation for association activities. The association, on the occasion, encouraged ex-servicemen and dependents to join and utilise Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme facilities.
United News of India
3 days ago
- United News of India
Kerala CM to launch 'My Family, Drug-Free Family' campaign
Thiruvananthapuram, June 19 (UNI) 'My Family, Drug-Free Family' campaign with the involvement of residential associations will be launched by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan as part of the fifth phase of Kerala's anti-drug state-wide campaign to be held on June 26. In connection with the 'International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking', the campaign will run until January 30, 2026. Stating that Kerala is moving forward strongly in the fight against drugs, the Chief Minister said, "As part of the Operation D-Hunt, conducted between June 10 and 16, 13,700 people were screened, 730 cases registered, and 769 people arrested." "Authorities seized 378.375 grams of MDMA and 24.833 kg of cannabis. During this period, 274 source reports related to drug activity were forwarded to respective district police chiefs, and follow-up action is ongoing, he said. "Between June 8 and 14, the Excise Department seized 19.937 kg of cannabis, 20.71 grams of MDMA, and 0.6 grams of methamphetamine. About 238 cases were registered and 221 individuals arrested in this regard," he said. Drug awareness rallies will be organised in schools and colleges under the leadership of NSS, SPC, and anti-drug clubs. School parliaments will be conducted in high schools and higher secondary schools under the local self-government and the education departments, focusing on the theme 'Drug-Free, Safe Campus: A Child's Right'. All government offices across the state will take an anti-drug pledge at 11 am on June 26. The Public Education Department has launched robust school-centred strategies to counter drug abuse. Various programmes have been implemented to prevent drug misuse and addiction among students, including awareness campaigns, community empowerment, and support systems for promoting healthy lifestyles. Training programmes have begun for teachers to identify drug abuse and aggressive behaviour among students. The training also aims to enable teachers to provide preliminary counselling. UNI DS ARN
India Today
3 days ago
- India Today
Kerala to kick off drug abuse awareness campaign on World Anti-Drug Day
The Kerala government is stepping up its fight against drug abuse with a large-scale, state-wide campaign aimed at building a drug-free a set of programmes aimed at ending the drug menace across various sections of society, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, at a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday, said that the fifth phase of the anti-drug campaign will be launched on June 26, in line with the International Day Against Drug Abuse. The campaign will run until January 30, events marking the International Day will be held across Kerala, led by elected representatives. At the college level, a special programme will be launched simultaneously in campuses across the state, with the support of ministers, public figures, NGOs, and artists, Vijayan said. Residents' Associations will play a key role through a new initiative titled 'My Family is a Drug-Free Family'. Awards will be given at the taluk level to those associations that succeed in turning the maximum number of households drug-free within three months, he rallies will be held in schools and colleges, organised by National Service Scheme, Student Police Cadets, and anti-drug clubs. The Local Self-Government and Education Departments will also conduct school parliaments at the high school and higher secondary levels, with the theme: Drug-Free, Safe School: A Child's government offices will observe the day by taking an official pledge at 11 campaign is backed by strong enforcement. The Chief Minister said between June 10 and 16, under Operation D-Hunt, over 13,700 people were checked, 730 cases registered, and 769 arrests made. Nearly 25 kilograms of cannabis and 378 grams of MDMA were seized. Additionally, 274 source reports related to drug activity were handed over to district police chiefs, Vijayan June 8 to 14, the Excise Department seized 19.9 kg of cannabis, 20.7 g of MDMA (also known as ecstasy or molly), and 0.6 g of methamphetamine (popularly known as crystal meth), registering 238 cases and arresting 221 persons, he General Education Department is actively working to protect students from the dangers of drug use. Schools are conducting awareness programmes, peer support groups, and training sessions for teachers and parents. Topics related to drug abuse have been added to the curriculum, with a special focus on adolescent education. The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has developed new books to promote healthy living, he announced.'Teachers are being trained to spot signs of drug use and violent behaviour among students. Anti-Narcotic Clubs are operating in schools with support from the Excise Department, and selected schools have formed vigilance brigades made up of student groups,' Vijayan discussions and student-led activities are also being held through various initiatives. To develop students' creativity and personal growth, a campaign titled 'Jeevithotsavam 2025' (Festival of Life 2025) will be conducted over 21 days, ending with a state-level integration carnival.'Schools have been asked to review complaints weekly and take action where needed. Teachers have also been introduced to fitness routines such as Zumba to promote physical well-being among students,' the Chief Minister bodies and community groups across the state are also playing a strong role in raising awareness. The Kozhikode District Panchayat is set to organise a mass pledge event on June 26, involving 20 lakh people under the campaign 'Drug-Free Kozhikode'. The 'Against Drugs, Kattakada' campaign, led by students in the Kattakada constituency, recently completed its first phase with a massive human chain involving local residents, Vijayan noted.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Indian Express
2023 fake drug case: Kerala woman's fight to find who framed her brings family under police lens, son ‘goes into hiding'
Two years after she was exonerated in what turned out to be a fake synthetic drugs case, 53-year-old Sheela Sunny has been involved in a legal battle to find out who framed her. However, the police investigation into this has come very close to home for Sheela, whose son has allegedly gone into hiding, and his wife's sister was arrested on Sunday. Sheela owned a beauty parlour at Chalakudy in Kerala's Thrissur district when she was arrested by the Excise Department on February 27, 2023, following the recovery of what was suspected to be LSD stamps from her scooter. Slapped with the stringent Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, Sheela spent 72 days in jail before the High Court granted her bail. The case against her collapsed when chemical tests of the seized stamps tested negative for LSD. On Sunday, police arrested Liviya Jose, 23, the sister of Sheela's daughter-in-law, Liji. Last month, police had arrested Liviya's friend, M N Narayana Das, 55, who had allegedly given wrong information to the Excise Department about the fake LSD stamps found in Sheela's scooter. Police said the probe now involves Sheela's son, Sangeeth, and his wife, Liji. Sangeeth has allegedly gone into hiding after recently being thrice served notice by the police, officers said. Tables turn After lab results of the seized stamps showed they did not contain any synthetic drugs in 2023, the Excise Department registered a case against Narayana Das and Liviya under the NDPS Act. Early this year, when Das moved an anticipatory bail plea in the High Court, the judge directed the police to take over the probe. After the Supreme Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea, Das was arrested in April. Kodungallour DySP V K Raju, who is heading the probe, said: 'The entire picture behind the conspiracy will be out only after we question Sheela's son, Sangeeth. So far, he is not listed as an accused, but we had served him notices three times. We have intensified our investigation into him.' According to police, Liviya had used Sheela's scooter on February 26, 2023, and allegedly concealed the stamps in the scooter before asking Das to inform the Excise Department. The next day, Sheela was arrested with what was then believed to be LSD stamps. Contested motive Police said Liviya told them the motive for her attempt to implicate Sheela in the drugs case was that Sheela allegedly had sent a voice message to her son that could damage Liviya's reputation. The DySP said Das had half a dozen criminal cases, including those related to extortion, honey trapping and theft, against him. 'He had met Liviya in Bengaluru and they were in a live-in relationship. In the drug case, Das acted as per Liviya's instructions. She had collected the LSD stamps from Bengaluru. She collected them on the assumption that they were genuine. At the same time, we have no information suggesting her links with any drug racket. We need to bring in more clarity regarding how she got the stamps. For this, we will seek their custody,' the officer said. Amid the probe, Liviya had moved to Dubai, where she worked in the hotel management sector. Last Saturday, Kerala Police got a tip-off that she had landed in Mumbai, which led to her arrest. Sheela, however, is not willing to buy Liviya's theory regarding the motive behind the crime. 'I strongly suspect my daughter-in-law. Liviya might have given a wrong statement to the police to save her sister from the case. I had not spoken to my son against Liviya's character. When Liviya came home with costly items for us, I had raised doubts about her source of income. She was frequently flying between Kochi and Bengaluru with no source of income.' She claimed that her daughter-in-law wanted to avoid her and may have considered her an 'obstacle'. 'Hence, they conspired to put me behind bars,' Sheela alleged. After her release on bail, Sheela said her son moved out of their house. 'I don't know where he is now. If he is involved in the conspiracy, he should be punished,' she said. After the 2023 arrest in the fake drug case, many parts of Sheela's life derailed. Relatives and friends abandoned her, and she had to shut down the beauty parlour and vacate the rented premises on which she used to run it. Her husband, Sunny, who was working in a hotel, later became bedridden. Sheela had taken up a job at a daycare centre in Chennai, but had to give it up to look after her husband.
The Hindu
15-06-2025
- The Hindu
RPF seizes 5 kg of ganja on board Tatanagar-Yesvantpur Express
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has successfully foiled an attempt to smuggle narcotic substances through Indian Railways by seizing 5.05 kg of ganja onboard Tatanagar-Yesvantpur Express on June 14, 2025. A statement from Mysuru Division of South Western Railways said a special team conducted a surprise check onboard Train No. 18111 Tatanagar-Yesvantpur Express in the Birur-Kadur section as part of Operation NARCOS. 'During the inspection, one individual identified as Mahendra Das (57), son of Dhanu Ravi Das, a resident of Sona Village, Jamui District, Bihar employed as bedroll staff on the train was found in possession of a bag containing 5.050 kg of Ganja,' said a press statement issued by S. Sreedhar, Senior Law Officer and Public Relations Officer of SWR, Mysuru Division. The contraband was secured at Kadur station at 4 p.m. on June 14, 2025 and the case was handed over to the Excise Department, which registered a case under various sections of NDPS Act 1985. The seized items include 5.05 kg valued around ₹3.03 lakh and a mobile phone around ₹7,000. The detection and seizure of the contraband followed efforts by a team comprising assistant sub-inspector B. Ananda, head constable T. Shivananda, constable Mujammil Khan, and assistant sub-inspecto G. Shivamurthy, acting on the instructions of J.R. Sam Prashanth, Senior Divisional Security Commissioner, RPF, Mysuru. Inspector Sandeep L.C., Excise Department, Kadur, completed the legal formalities and formally seized the narcotic substances. 'This successful operation underscores the RPF's continued vigilance and strong resolve in curbing the menace of drug trafficking through railway networks, thereby safeguarding public safety and upholding the integrity of Indian Railways,' the statement added.
