Ganja makes deep inroads into Western Ghats
(WorldNews India)

Samarth (name changed), a fun-loving youngster from Mangaluru employed in Dubai, was elated to return home on vacation. His happiness had less to do with homecoming, it had to do with fresh ganja he had managed to get his hands on soon after his arrival. `I bought it from a peddler who purchased it from Shikaripura,` said Samarth during a casual chat. Shikaripura in Shivamogga district is part of the scenic Malnad region of the Western Ghats that comprises parts of Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Kodagu and Uttara Kannada districts. While Samarth is an occasional customer, trekkers to the ghats are familiar with ganja points across the region. Several people TOI spoke to pointed to the worrying...