Resorts, dhabas under cop radar after rave party bust

VISAKHAPATNAM: Following reports of drug abuse and rave parties at city beaches police have set about setting stringent guidelines for organising parties.
Police officials in civil clothes will visit dhabas, hotels and resorts along the beach (Sagarnagar, Rushikonda, Thotlakonda and Bheemili) and party venues to keep an eye out for possible rave parties and prevent untoward incidents said assistant commissioner of police (Madhurawada) AVL Prasana Kumar to TOI.“We have received information that dhabas and resorts do not have the permission to serve liquor and yet they have been serving alcohol illegally to the customers,” he added.

Sources said that over 25 dhabas, resorts and guest houses are located on the Beach Road between Rushikonda and Bheemili. And people have been seen consuming liquor and smoking marijuana at the dhabas on weekends.
“Our preliminary investigation has revealed that two persons Sonu and his friend, organised the rave party at Rushikonda Beach on April 13. The investigation has further revealed that consumption of high-end drugs such as LSD and other narcotic substances are slowly rising among the youth in the city. We have also formed a special team to nab the drug suppliers and organisers of rave parties. There are also reports that the drug peddlers are supplying the substances to guests in star hotels said ACP (Task Force) M Mahindra, who is investigating the rave party case.
“We have issued guidelines to owners of dhabas, resorts and hotels along the beach road to install CCTV cameras, keep detailed records of visitors, check for identity proofs before they enter and inform the police about the parties that are held and participation of foreigners in them. Moreover, if dhabas and resorts allow illegal parties, the police will clamp down on both the revellers and the organisers, said Prasana Kumar.
“Also, it should be ensured that timings are strictly followed and none of the visitors bring narcotic substances with them,” he added. The rave parties, popular in Hyderabad, seem to have finally spread in Visakhapatnam and some rural pockets in the region. The mushrooming dhabas and guest houses on the city outskirts are being exclusively used for this kind of the parties, say sources.
Sources in the police said that narcotics are a silent killer that can gradually develop into a severe problem for the society. “Earlier, marijuana was a favorite party drug among youngsters in the city around a few years back, but now expensive and lethal drugs have replaced ganja among revellers. There is need to reinforce efforts to tackle drug trafficking in the city , they added.