Mumbai: Inform cops before college festivals, say principals after drug peddler caught outside Bhavan's College

Following the recent incidence of a drug peddler being caught outside Bhavan's College at Andheri while the inter-college cultural festival O2 was going on, city colleges feel that the police should be informed when such festivals begin so as to keep an eye on anti-social elements. Some also believe that if DJ nights are restricted only for in-house students, then untoward incidents can be avoided.

Although college principals believe that youths should not be stopped from organising any event in their institutes, their activities should be observed closely and entry of outside students restricted.

T Shiware, chairman, Association of Non Grants Colleges, said: "Colleges should increase security outside the campus during festivals by involving the police. This will help to keep away outside students. Students found consuming intoxicated substance or drugs should be immediately rusticated from the college."

Echoing the sentiments of Shiware, VJ Sirwaiya, principal of Wilson College, said: "Most of the times we don't allow DJ nights. But when we do allow, we tell them that the decibels should should not go beyond a particular level since that would disturb the neighbours."

Manju Nichani, principal of KC College, said: "We don't allow outside students for DJ nights in our festivals. This helps us to keep control over our own students."

When contacted, an official of Bhavan's College said, "We have good relations with the anti-narcotics team and they keep visiting our college to make sure there is no anti-social elements roaming around. The drug peddler was caught outside the college premises and it is nothing to do with our college festival."