Maharashtra: Drug menace growing in Nashik, says Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut

Sanjay Raut. File Pic

Nashik in north Maharashtra is becoming a hub of drug trade, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut claimed on Friday while announcing a protest march over the issue, reported news agency PTI.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena will take out a huge protest march in the city on October 20 against the growing drug menace, Sanjay Raut told reporters.

"Nashik is known as a cultural centre and place of pilgrimage. But with the recovery of huge quantities of drugs, has it become 'Udta Nashik' like 'Udta Punjab'?" Sanjay Rau said, referring to the 2016 Bollywood film about a drug crisis in the northern state.

"Drugs are coming to Nashik from the ports of Gujarat. Even students are getting drugs easily and some people have committed suicide (due to addiction). The drug manufacturing factory raided by Mumbai police at Shinde village (in the district) had political patronage," the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader alleged.

Police had recently busted a mephedrone manufacturing unit in Nashik district.

Questioning the 'silence' of deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis -- who also heads the home department -- on the issue, Sanjay Raut said whenever the BJP leader becomes home minister, "the law & order situation in the state deteriorates," reported PTI.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole on Tuesday said that drug trafficking in the state is impossible without the blessings of state officials.

"The drug cartel in Nashik is now expanding to cities like Amravati. School and college students are getting trapped in the grip of drugs, which is a cause of concern. The responsibility in the Nashik drug case should be accepted by the government. It's essential to stop this menace that is ruining the lives of the youth. We urge the government to not turn Maharashtra into Punjab," Nana Patole said.

"Such a huge drug cartel cannot be run without the blessings of the state officials," he added.

His accusation in the wake of the recent unearthing of a clandestine drug manufacturing unit in Nashik's Shindegaon.

"Who helped the drug mafia Lalit Patil escape from Sasoon hospital? How did Lalit Patil disappear? Who is trying to release him? We have all the information. We will disclose it at the appropriate time, but no one should back those playing with the lives of the youth. It is the responsibility of all of us to ensure that such incidents do not occur. The drug case in Nashik is not recent, it has been going on for a while, and slowly it is becoming clear who is backing the accused," Nana Patole said.

(With inputs from PTI)