Chennai: In a significant operation, police conducted a raid on hostels accommodating students from a prominent private engineering college near Chengalpattu. The raid resulted in the seizure of cannabis and other narcotic substances.
The college, located in the Kattankulathur area, is well-known and reputed, with thousands of students enrolled. It is owned by a leader of a prominent political party. The institution attracts not only students from various districts but also from other states and even foreign countries. Despite its reputation among academics and students, the college’s surrounding areas have reportedly seen increasing instances of drug abuse, leading to multiple complaints being lodged with the police.
In response to these complaints, the police conducted a pre-dawn raid on the private hostels and rented accommodations near the college. The operation was extensive, involving over 500 police personnel who thoroughly searched the entire area.
The Saturday morning operation, which was undertaken based on the instruction by Tambaram Commissioner Abin Dinesh Modak, specifically focussed on students of a leading educational institution in the locality.
Led by the Deputy Commissioners of Tambaram, Pallikaranai, and traffic wing, male and female police officials searched as many as 500 flats taken on rent by students and private hostels. The operation supervised by Additional Commissioner C Mageshwari came as a surprise move for the youth and also the public.
According to Tambaram city police, 500 gram ganja, six ganja chocolate, 20 ml ganja oil, five bhang balls, one smoking pot, seven hookah machines and six kg hookah powder (called shisha) were seized during the operation.
During the operation, the police also detained Selvamani Gurusamy, an A+ category rowdy from Guduvancherry, from whom the police seized 2.25 kg ganja and four knives.
The raid extended across several regions, including Potheri, Gudduvanchertlry, Peerkankaranai, and Tambaram. Authorities took control of all the hostels and rooms occupied by students, leaving no stone unturned.
During the raid, police seized a substantial quantity of cannabis packets and other drug-related items from several rooms. In total, 30 students were arrested for possessing narcotic substances and were taken into custody for further investigation.
The raid is part of a broader effort to curb drug use in educational institutions and to ensure a safe environment for students. Further investigations are ongoing.