Sea (name changed)Yes. The 21-year-old student from Madugula completed his degree last year with high hopes for a better future. While preparing for competitive exams and helping his parents, he regularly participated in job fairs organized by Andhra Pradesh Skill Development Center in collaboration with the police department.
Although his focus was on studies, he also enjoyed spending time with friends, one of whom was Charan (name changed)Everyone in the village knew that Charan was once involved in a ganja case, but no one fully understood the seriousness or long-term consequences of such a crime, Sagar also never thought much about it, giving importance to his friendship over the rumors about Charan,
However, with time, Charan starts taking Sagar to various places, spends a lot of money and gradually introduces him to some habits. Sagar finds himself enjoying the comfort and lifestyle offered by Charan – a lifestyle that he and his family cannot afford.
A few weeks ago, Charan asks Sagar to accompany him to deliver a parcel assigned by his boss. Sagar just followed without asking much questions. While returning, both of them were stopped by the police team. During inspection of their bags, police found hash oil – a liquid form of marijuana – and the two were immediately arrested. Sagar tried to explain that he had no knowledge of the smuggling, but being caught with the banned substance gave him no chance to escape arrest or a case under the stringent Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
For Sagar’s parents, this news was devastating. He had placed a lot of hope and trust in his son. “He gives great importance to studies, and we were confident that he would do something in his life. Whenever he went out, if we asked where he was going, he never gave a clear answer. Bad company ruined my child’s future,” says his father, Raja Rao.
The case is still under investigation and his family fears that the NDPS case registered against him could be a major setback to his career.
Life of 27-year-old Ramesh from Chintapalli area, about 30 km from G Madugula, took a turn for the worst early this year. After completing his intermediate studies, he was earning his living by doing small jobs and was unable to support his family properly. One day, he was offered a job as a “pilot” in the agency to help transport ganja from one place to another, a distance of about 20 km. He was promised Rs 10,000 for the job.
“In his confession, Ramesh said he had traveled across the area several times. Since he had debts and needed money for his family, he agreed. However, he never thought he would be caught. He regrets taking part in this activity,” the police officer who caught him said on condition of anonymity.
In the agency area, many youth – some knowingly, others unknowingly – are getting involved in ganja smuggling for money, unaware of the harsh punishment under the NDPS Act. Once arrested, they face long jail terms, and although bail is possible after several months, the repeated court visits and the stigma of the NDPS case seriously harm their career prospects and take a toll on their mental health.
“Ganja mafia groups, mostly outsiders, lure local youth with money and expensive items. In many cases, tribal youth admitted that they agreed to participate in the activity in order to get mobile phones or cash ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹25,000, which they were asked to transport or assist as ‘pilots’, depending on the quantity and distance.
“Sadly, many people admitted that they only wanted to help their parents, buy medicines, manage household expenses or repay debts. These reasons sadden us too. Despite our persistent awareness campaigns, they believe they can get away if they see the police. But with extensive technological networks to trace back-and-forth links, they are eventually caught,” said a senior police officer on condition of anonymity. Told.
According to legal experts, after being arrested under NDPS cases, the accused are sent to judicial custody and it is extremely difficult to get bail for six months. “There is no way the court will grant bail within 180 days. The conditions are stringent; the judge must believe that the accused have not committed the crime and must also believe that they will not commit such a crime in the future,” says Kuppilly Muralidhar, senior advocate and president of the Forum for Legal Professionals.
There are very limited chances of bail when the quantity of ganja is less than 20 kg, but most of the cases registered in the region involve larger quantities, he said, adding that conviction under the NDPS Act can lead to 10 years’ imprisonment and up to life imprisonment in serious cases.
A senior police officer with experience in handling NDPS cases says that although the court allows 180 days for investigation and filing of charge sheet, it is extremely challenging to complete the NDPS investigation within this period. “Therefore, we filed a petition requesting an additional 180 days, citing the extensive relations involved. The court usually grants extensions,” he says on condition of anonymity.
Visakhapatnam Central Jail Deputy Superintendent of Police, CH Surya Kumar, says there are 1717 inmates in the jail, of which 1026 are NDPS prisoners – producers, suppliers or consumers. He said that about 400 of these prisoners are from tribal areas of ASR district or parts of Odisha.
“Some individuals, who are closely connected to their families and choose this activity because of financial constraints, suffer from intense anxiety and deep regret. But there are others who feel that they have not made any major mistakes.”Madhavi A psychologist working with the prison department
Madhavi, a psychologist working in the prison department, says that youth involved in such crimes often experience a mixture of anxiety, regret and denial. She explains, “Some individuals, who are closely connected to their families and choose this activity because of financial constraints, suffer from intense anxiety and deep regret. But there are also some who feel that they have not made any major mistakes.”
Giving an example, she adds: “One prisoner was just 20 years old, and his wife was five months pregnant. He deeply regretted his decision, yet even his own relatives did not come forward to help him bail him out.” On the other hand, she says, youth who lack proper parental supervision and are attracted by easy money and a luxurious lifestyle often justify their actions by claiming they have done nothing seriously wrong. “They question why they should work for an entire month to earn ₹20,000 when they believe they can earn ₹10,000 in an hour.”
She explains, “In the first weeks of imprisonment, many young prisoners are tempted to end their lives – not because they were caught smuggling, but because they cannot cope with the prison environment.” Madhavi emphasizes the importance of parental guidance to keep the youth away from the world of crime. She stresses, “There should be proper monitoring right from childhood – understanding what activities they are engaged in, how much time they spend outside and how they are using the money given to them. Early guidance can prevent them from falling into such traps.”
What do tribal leaders say
Tribal leaders from the ASR district have accused the government of neglecting local youth and failing to address long-standing issues, which they say has led to a rise in such incidents. Kilo Surendra, member of Andhra Pradesh Girijan Sangham, says, “Poverty and lack of employment opportunities are the primary reasons pushing tribal youth towards these activities. The ganja mafia, which mostly consists of people from outside the state, targets the youth by promising them money and a luxurious lifestyle.”
He alleges, “Governments have consistently failed to address the concerns associated with GO No. 3, which aims to ensure local jobs for local people. Implementing it effectively will eliminate unemployment.” The government’s plan to provide alternative crops to farmers instead of hemp is also not being implemented properly. Seeds and saplings of alternative crops do not reach farmers in interior settlements; They allege that supplies are made only to divisional headquarters.
“Governments have consistently failed to address the concerns associated with GO No. 3, which aims to ensure local jobs for local people. Implementing it effectively will eliminate unemployment.” Kilo Surendra Member of Andhra Pradesh Girijan Sangham
According to the police, there are currently no ganja plantations in the ASR district, even as farms in remote villages have been destroyed. Police say that the ganja that is being seized now has come from some areas of Odisha.
The ASR district is reportedly being used mainly as a transit route before moving the contraband to Visakhapatnam and then to other states. Officials also emphasize that in recent years, the police have relied heavily on community welfare programs and developmental initiatives designed to prevent tribal youth from turning to Maoism or ganja smuggling, as well as discouraging farmers from cultivating ganja.
These programs focus on confidence-building, enhancing self-confidence and expanding employment opportunities. Initiatives like ‘Saral’ and ‘Prerna’ for career guidance and employment and ‘Nirman’ for personal and professional development are being implemented with a special focus on the youth.
ASR district Superintendent of Police Amit Baradar recently said that under ‘Prerna’, job fairs were organized at Araku, Paderu, Chintapalli, Rampachodavaram and other places, where a large number of youth secured jobs. In partnership with AP State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC), several skill development programs are being organised.
As part of the ‘Nirman’ initiative, police officials are introducing new avenues of personal and professional development to tribal students. Study tours are being organized for young tribal graduates to industrial units, IT firms and tourism centers in metropolitan cities to directly expose them to the professional environment and emerging career prospects. He also mentioned the remarkable talent among the tribal youth in volleyball, which the police was encouraging through tournaments organized in different divisions.
What does the Home Minister say
During an inspection of Visakhapatnam Central Jail, Home Minister V. Anitha said she was impressed by the plight of tribals who were used as “scapegoats” in several ganja-related cases. He said that this matter will be discussed.
