Mysore/Mysuru: Taking strong exception to statements made by Mysuru City Police Commissioner Seema Latkar and Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwar that only ‘phenyl’ was found at the ‘Tuk-Tuk Household Chemicals Production Solution Manufacturing’ unit in the Hebbal Industrial Area, which was recently raided by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Mysuru-Kodagu MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar alleged that they were attempting to cover up a drug syndicate operating in Mysuru.

“Being in responsible positions, they should not suppress facts and lie. The NCB press release clearly exposes their failure to control the drug menace. Officers and the Government must be transparent. Any attempt at a cover-up will erode public faith in the administration,” the MP said.

Addressing a press conference at his office this morning, Yaduveer said, it was “100 percent clear” that drugs were being manufactured at the Hebbal unit.

“As per the official NCB press note, drugs worth Rs. 10 crore and more than 500 kg of materials were seized. Yet, the Police Commissioner claims that only phenyl was found.  This is a ridiculous assertion,” he said.

“If NCB teams from Delhi have to come to Mysuru to seize drugs worth Rs. 10 crore and if Maharashtra Police have to come here to seize synthetic drugs worth Rs. 390 crore, what are our Police doing? Is this not a systemic failure?” he asked.

“To cover up these failures, excuses such as ‘phenyl’ are being fed to the media for public consumption,” he charged.

The MP alleged that a systematic drug syndicate was operating in Mysuru, particularly in the N.R. Mohalla area. “There is a park known as ‘Solution Park’ which has turned into a haven for drug addicts. This network operates right under the nose of the Police, yet no action is taken. Why?”                 the MP questioned.

Yaduveer said, he had repeatedly demanded the establishment of an NCB unit in Mysuru, given the sensitivity of the issue and the growing prevalence of drug networks in the region.

“I have raised this matter even in Parliament, especially after the seizure of Rs. 390 crore worth of drugs in Mysuru by the Maharashtra Police,” he said.

“Why has there been no concrete action against drug rackets in Mysuru so far, despite repeated seizures by agencies from outside the State?” the MP asked.