Justifying the police raids on alleged rave parties, home minister R.R. Patil on Wednesday claimed that the ISI is also involved in narcotics business and money earned from this is being used to fund terrorist activities. The home minister’s claims came after several legislators expressed concern over the manner in which raids are being conducted in the city.
Deputy chairman of the legislative council, Vasant Davkhare, who is also from Mr Patil’s party — the NCP — said that people are even scared of going out for dinner. Shiv Sena legislator Neelam Gorhe and PWP leader Jayant Patil also expressed concern about the police taking the media along during raids.
NCP MLCs Anil Bhosale, Jaywant Jadhav and Ms Gorhe had raised the issue through a calling attention motion. Raising objection to the media’s presence at such raids and footage of girls rescued in the raids, Ms Gorhe said, “Looking at the footage used by the media, one wonders whether it was to expose a drug trade or something else.”
Mr Davkhare was also critical of the manner in which the police conducted these raids. “It is possible that there are some people, who do not take drugs, but are also caught by the police. They may be exonerated after all tests are done. However, by then, people have lost their dignity if their pictures are flashed on television channels,” Mr Davkhare said.
Moreover, Ms Gorhe and another Shiv Sena MLC Deepak Sawant also tried to corner the home minister on technical questions. Ms Gorhe asked as to why only a few selective officers conduct such raids. Mr Patil replied that very few policemen are well verse with the procedures of anti-narcotics laws and therefore, they conduct raids.
Further making an emotional appeal, the home minister said, “I expected the House to support the police for taking such action. The ISI is involved in drug trade and the money used from this trade used for terror funding. Moreover, young boys and girls caught in these raids are assets of the nation, but they are getting spoilt by these rave parties.”