News & Pics: Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SB)
Udupi, Jul 25: DCIB police nabbed three hemp (ganja) sellers in raids conducted in Manipal and seized 2.5 kgs of hemp and two cars used to transport the hemp.
Speaking to the mediapersons on Friday, superintendent of police Prawin Madhukar Pawar said the arrested are Nityanand (34) from Saralebettu, Sunil Sherigar (34) from Manchi in Alevoor and Imtiaz (27) from Indiranagar, Kukkikatte. The value of the hemp and the vehicles seized are around Rs 8 lakh. The duo, Nityanand and Imtiaz were caught while selling 1.2 kgs of hemp near End Point in Manipal from a Qualis and Sunil while trying to sell 1.3 kgs of hemp from a Maruthi Alto near a water tank on Manipal-Alevoor road, Sp informed.
Pawar said that the search is on for another main accused Anil of Jadkal. Nityanand and Sunil were earlier accused in a similar case of selling hemp in the year 2000 and 2005, while Imtiaz was the accused in Padma murder case of Brahmavar held in 2005, he said.
The three accused were arrested by the DCIB team led by deputy superintendent of police Jayant V Shetty with the help of vital information given by the duo, Anup (23) and John Mathew (20), who were arrested by the same team while selling hemp at the market near Adiudupi. A total of 2.05 kgs of hemp were seized from the duo. The staff of the squad was sent as buyers to trap the accused. The interrogation of the accused provided vital details on the mobile suppliers of hemp to students of Manipal.
Students of Manipal, a well-known education centre were being enticed by the hemp-peddlers over the last one decade. Though cases were booked, on many occasions these culprits were found using innovative methods to distribute hemp to students, Pawar informed. As a matter of responsibility, Pawar said that he has prepared a list of addicted students and will entrust the heads of the institutions to individually undertake counselling and rehabilitate them.
The operation was conducted under the guidance of the SP and Additional SP Kashinath Talageri.