Mangaluru : Home Minister M B Patil directed the police to initiate strict action against the drug mafia in Mangaluru.

Speaking to media persons after a review meeting held at the Police Commissioner’s office on Monday, he said: “The district police have taken a strict stand on drug mafia in the district. Mangaluru is an educational hub. Thousands of students come here to pursue their studies. Drug peddlers target these students. I have directed the officials to check the drug peddling menace by initiating strict action against peddlers.”

“Mangaluru was dubbed as a communal region in the past. Due to the hard work of the police officials, Mangaluru is developing into a beautiful city,” he said.

The department had placed a lot of demands including the filling vacancies. “All the demands cannot be fulfilled at once. But a majority of the demands will be fulfilled,” he promised.

Lauding the phone-in programme of the City Police Commissioner, he said the programme would help in reducing the gap between the police and the public.

Patil said that as chief minister, Siddaramaiah had given good administration. “However, voters did not re-elect him. Many wish him to be CM. There is nothing wrong in it. The coalition government will complete its five-year term and Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy will continue as the CM,” he said.