Criminals laugh at interrogation

CHENNAI: Policemen investigating crime cases in city are finding a new problem while dealing with offenders, thanks to chemist shops providing drugs without doctors' prescription. “Noted pickpockets and petty criminals consume these tablets when picked up for interrogation. They do not cooperate and even if we beat them, they just laugh at you,” a crime inspector in Central Chennai told Deccan Chronicle. “Last week two youngsters, one already having a notorious background and the other in early 20's were picked up. When searched, both had strips of tablets. Upon enquiry, they revealed that they would ask for a particular tablet in the nearby medical shops and consume it before and after crime”, said a crime sub inspector.  “We checked with a few medical stores at Chintadripet and Pudupet. Several shops were selling these drugs without a prescription”, he said.

“Most of these drugs come under the generic of Nitrazepam, a hypnotic drug with sedative character. These drugs are also anti depressant and continued usage may make a person addicted to the drug”, said general physician Ganga Mallan, member, Indian Medical Association, Coimbatore. There are also cases where youngsters give up alcohol consumption and switch to drugs that give a high. These drugs, act on a person for about five to eight hours. Unlike sleeping pills, upon overdose, these may not have lethal effects, but needs monitoring, Ganga added.  

With the State having only around 150 drug inspectors and over 45,000 medical stores, excluding dispensaries, G.R. Ravindranath of Doctors' Association for Social Equality said it was humanly impossible to completely restrict over the counter sale of drugs with such a low strength of inspectors. However, sources at the Drug Control Department feel otherwise. “The state has seen a maximum cut down in OTC sale of drugs and regular inspections are on,” said S.A. Ramesh, secretary, Chemists' and Druggists' Association. “Wholesalers are not allowed to supply Schedule H Drugs to retailers without a proper order copy and payment through cheque,” he said. “It is true that Tamil Nadu is better off than other States in terms of inspection. However, OTC sale of drugs should be completely banned and only the government can do anything about it,” opined Ravindranath.