Oxytocin seized from traders

BELAGAVI, DECEMBER, 2017:

They falsely claim that the drug would increase milk yield of cows

Belagavi police and officers of the drug control department have seized a drug used to draw milk forcefully from cows.

Oxytocin injection is a Schedule H drug that has restricted sales done under close scrutiny of officials. Gynaecologists are allowed to prescribe this drug to pregnant women to ensure smooth deliveries.

However, some traders were selling this drug and feeding it to cows, by falsely claiming that it would increase milk yield. The drug had no powers to increase milk yield. Instead, it increased the speed of milk drawn from the udders of cows, damaging their visceral systems. Most of the drugs were being sold in unlabelled plastic bottles.

A letter from the chief minister’s office to the drug controller led to formation of a special team by the police and the drug controller’s office. They bought some unlabelled bottles and tested them. After confirming that they contained the Schedule H drug, the officers seized the drug and booked cases against Gangadhar Siddappa Gavali,42, of Konwal Galli in Belagavi. Drugs worth Rs. 73,000 have been seized.