Mangalore: The Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishat, on February 4, Monday formed a human chain at the Basaveshwara Circle near KPT and staged a Rasta Roko demanding stern measures from the district administration and the government to crush the drugs mafia. The protestors also blamed the drugs mafia for the death of Sneha Upadhyaya who was a victim of drug abuse and committed suicide.

Addressing the protestors ABVP State Secretary K Ramesh said the drugs mafia was operating in the district taking advantage of the large number of educational institutions in the district and added innocent victims were falling prey to the mafia. Sneha case is just one instance while many such cases go unreported, he said and demanded stern measures to curb the mafia.

Vinay Horatti, city Organising Secretary of ABVP said some vested interests were staking the lives of innocent students  and questioned why the police cannot trap the drug peddlers when drugs are easily available to students.  He also stressed the need for parents to be vigilant. He further urged the district administration to convene a meeting of student leaders, college management boards and elected representatives to discuss the issue.