Two former students arrested in Kalamassery drug case

KOCHI: Police arrested two former students, suspected to have brought banned marijuana to the hostel of Kalamassery polytechnic college. Ashiq and Sharil, last year’s graduates from the college, were arrested in Ernakulam. They were arrested by the Kalamassery police based on the statement of the accused Akash, who was remanded in the case yesterday. After questioning, the arrest of both will be recorded.

According to police, Ashiq is a history sheeter previously linked with many drug cases. Police have ramped up the investigation to find if more students were part of the drug cabal inside the college.

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.

However, there are allegations about police trying to protect SFI members involved in the case.