Major ganja haul at Kalamassery Government Polytechnic College Hostel; college union general secretary among three students arrested

KOCHI: Small packets of ganja securely hidden in hostel cupboards, an electronic weighing machine for weighing and selling ganja in small quantities, and three bottles of liquor—this is what the police seized during a raid at the hostel of Kalamassery Government Polytechnic College. The shocking discovery is yet another indication of how deeply the drug lobby has infiltrated educational institutions in the state. Three students were arrested in connection with two separate cases.

The arrested students are third-year students Adithyan (20) from Karthikappally, Haripad; R. Abhiraj (21), the college union general secretary from Thodiyoor, Karunagappally; and M. Akash (21) from Villumala, Kulathupuzha. The college has suspended them and appointed a four-member investigation committee.

Adithyan and Abhiraj, who were found in possession of 9.70 grams of ganja, were granted station bail. Abhiraj is an SFI leader. Meanwhile, Akash was remanded after 1.9 kg of ganja was seized from him. He will be taken into custody and interrogated. SFI has alleged that Akash is a KSU activist. However, KSU leaders have denied this.

Two escaped; ganja supplied by former student
The raid was conducted based on intelligence received by DCP Aswathy Jiji, indicating that a large quantity of drugs had been brought in for Holi celebrations. The operation, which began at 9 PM on Thursday, continued until 4 AM on Friday. During the raid, two individuals managed to escape. The police have gathered information about them and the suppliers of the drugs.

According to police sources, a former student was responsible for supplying the ganja. The authorities had been keeping an eye on the men’s hostel, as they had received reports that outsiders frequently visited, allegedly for drug use. The ganja and other contraband were recovered from Adithyan and Abhiraj’s room on the ground floor and Akash’s room on the upper floor. Police recorded the visuals of the raid after bringing Principal Dr. Aiju Thomas to the spot. The principal confirmed to the media that this was not the first drug-related incident in the hostel.

Six more arrested with ganja, MDMA across the state
Six more individuals, including foreign nationals, were arrested in various parts of the state on Friday for possession and distribution of narcotics.

• Boxing trainer Gokul (28) from Vaduthala was arrested with 16.104 grams of MDMA in Panmana, Karunagappally.
• Abhinandan (19) from Cheruppuram Colony was caught with 2 kg of ganja in Rajakkad, Idukki.
• Assam native Asim Changmai (35) was arrested in Changanassery with 1.41 kg of ganja from an industrial estate.
• Tanzanian nationals David Ntami (22) and Athik Harun (21) were caught with MDMA in Kunnamangalam, Kozhikode. They were major suppliers of the drug.
• Pathanamthitta Kumbazha native Harikrishnan (31) was arrested by Bathery police with MDMA and ganja.

1.9 crore- As part of Operation Clean Slate, excise officials seized drugs worth Rs 1.9 crore in just eight days.