Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Mangalore, Jun 15: The city crime branch (CCB) police led by Valentine D'Souza have arrested a person who was peddling ganja near a college.

The accused, identified as Imtiaz Ahmed (30), a resident of Valachilpadavu, Farangipet, was arrested red-handed on Saturday June 14.

The CCB police received credible information that two persons would be coming by bike to sell ganja near the bus stop opposite the college. The CCB police along with tahsildar T G Guruprasad raided the spot and arrested Imtiaz. His accomplice managed to escape.

The CCB police seized 1.5 kg of ganja from the accused. The Bajaj Discovery bike used by the accused, money made from peddling ganja, amounting to Rs 3,440, and two mobile phones were also confiscated. The total value of the seized items, including the ganja, is Rs 95,000.

During interrogation, Imtiaz said he used to sell ganja at the rate of Rs 100 per packet to students and other people.

Imtiaz's accomplice, the prime accused who escaped from the spot, used to bring ganja from some other place and sell it in Valachil area and near college premises, police said, adding that a search for him is on and he will soon be arrested.

The police also warned that strict action will be taken against anyone who is caught either consuming, buying, or selling ganja near educational institutions or other places.

The arrest operation was conducted on the direction of city police commissioner R Hitendra, under the guidance of DCP (law and order) Dr K V Jagadish and DCP (crime) Vishnuwardhan, and led by CCB Valentine D'Souza. PSI Shyamsunder and police personnel Shashidhar Shetty, Ganesh M P, Ganesh Kalladka, Venugopal Ammai, Chandrashekar, Dinesh Bekal, Rajendra Prasad, Abdul Jabbar, Sudhir Shetty, Mani M N and driver Tejakumar were part of the operation.