Three college students arrested in Kerala polytechnic school hostel drug bust

KOCHI: As a part of a stringent crackdown on narcotics, the police raided a university hostel right here, seizing two kilograms of ganja and arresting three college students. The raid was carried out on the males’s hostel of Authorities Polytechnic School, Kalamassery, on Thursday evening, resulting in the arrest of three college students, police stated.
The incident triggered a blame sport amongst scholar outfit leaders, together with these from the Kerala College students Union (KSU) and the College students’ Federation of India (SFI), over the alleged involvement of their activists within the crime.
Two of the scholars had been launched on station bail, whereas Akash M, 21, a local of Kulathupuzha, Kollam, was booked beneath a separate FIR after authorities recovered 1.909 kg of ganja from his room.
He was produced earlier than a neighborhood court docket on Friday and remanded to judicial custody.
The second FIR names two different students-Adithyan, 20, a local of Haripad, Alappuzha, and Abhiraj R, 21, a local of Karunagappally, Kollam-from whom 9.70 grams of ganja had been seized. They had been granted station bail, law enforcement officials stated.
The faculty authorities have since suspended all three college students and ordered an inside inquiry into the incident.
In the meantime, Chief of the Opposition V D Satheesan reacted to the arrest of Abhiraj R, the SFI school union basic secretary.
He alleged that SFI union leaders had been concerned within the ganja seizure case, accusing the Left-affiliated scholar organisation of facilitating drug distribution in school hostels and campuses.
Satheesan claimed that the drug mafia is increasing its community with “political patronage” and that SFI is taking part in a key position on this unfold throughout campuses.
He urged the CPI(M) management and the state authorities to take strict motion.
Excise Minister M B Rajesh asserted that sturdy measures are being taken in opposition to the drug mafia, saying it stays unclear whether or not any organisations are straight linked to the ganja seizure at Kalamassery Polytechnic School.
Talking to the media, he stated no matter political affiliations, the federal government will fight drug-related actions with an iron fist and guaranteed strict motion in opposition to these implicated.
Industries Minister P Rajeeve additionally vowed stringent motion.
“In case you study the background of the accused in each drug case, you will see that people from all outfits. These concerned on this incident will face strict penalties,” he instructed reporters in response to queries in regards to the SFI chief’s involvement.
The SFI has defended the accused, asserting that no contraband was recovered from his possession and that he has no historical past of drug use.
“The arrested scholar, Akash, together with two others who fled the campus throughout the search, are lively members of the KSU,” SFI Kalamassery space president Devarajan instructed the media.
He referred to as for a probe into the involvement of the 2 college students who allegedly escaped throughout the raid, claiming that one in all them contested the union elections beneath the banner of KSU.
In response to SFI leaders, Adil and Anandu, two KSU activists, had been staying with Akash, and Adil had contested the elections.
Abhiraj, who was launched on station bail, additionally claimed that he was being unfairly focused.
In the meantime, SFI state secretary P S Sanjeev has referred to as for an in depth inquiry into the ganja seizure case whereas admitting a lapse in vigilance on the organisation’s half.
He acknowledged that the SFI activist concerned had not been vigilant and guaranteed that applicable motion can be taken.
“The activist has expressed willingness to endure a medical examination. We’ll resolve on additional motion after listening to his facet,” Sanjeev stated.
“There may be an try and pin the blame for this incident solely on SFI,” he alleged.
He additionally questioned why the main target was not on the seizure of two kilograms of ganja from a KSU activist’s room.
KSU state president Alosious Xavier dismissed the allegations.
“If anybody from our outfit is discovered responsible within the additional probe, KSU is not going to defend them,” he instructed the media.
Thrikkakara Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) P V Child stated that the police didn’t contemplate the political affiliations of the scholars throughout the investigation.
“Three college students had been caught red-handed and had been straight concerned within the case,” he acknowledged.
The ACP confirmed that the medical examination of the accused had been carried out.
In response to police, the contraband was supposed for each sale and private use.
The ACP acknowledged that the raid was carried out primarily based on a tip-off about giant portions of ganja being saved on campus forward of Holi celebrations.
“Each insiders and outsiders are concerned in drug peddling, with former college students and exterior people taking part in a key position,” he instructed reporters.
He added that outsiders couldn’t have accessed the hostel rooms with out the consent of these residing there. “Subsequently, it can’t be stated that the hostel residents had no involvement.”
The police are additionally investigating people who often go to the hostel and campus as a part of the probe. Along with the medicine, officers seized two cellphones, id playing cards, and a weighing scale from the suspects.
The search, which started on Thursday evening, lasted practically seven hours and concluded at 4 am on Friday, police officers stated.
The raid was carried out collectively by the Kalamassery police, the Metropolis Police Narcotic Cell, and the District Anti-Narcotics Particular Motion Pressure (DANSAF), they added.