Panjim MLA Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate has alleged a nexus between the police and the drug peddlers in light of the recent seizure of large quantities of ganja from the hawkers at the Parade Ground in the capital.  Speaking to the media outside the Goa Legislative Assembly, BJP MLA Monserrate asked, “Without the knowledge of the police can such activities take place? It is right under the nose of the police and they are doing nothing about it.”
He further said there is a fear that students would be worst affected by the easy access to the drugs. “In the garb of selling balloons they are doing this business. This is affecting the school children. The TB Cunha School is just a stone’s throw away from the place.” In a major embarrassment for the local police, a large quantity of ganja was seized last Saturday from hawkers living at the Parade Ground in Campal during an anti-encroachment drive of Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP).
Continuing its action against illegal occupation of the government’s open spaces by hawkers, CCP on Saturday accompanied by municipal staff and police force continued their anti-encroachment drive against the hawkers living on government land at Parade Grounds. During the clearing drive police found 43 packets of ganja from the belongings that were being cleared by the municipal staff.