A major crackdown took place near SRM University in Kattankulathur, where Tambaram police raided hostels, apartments, shops, and hotels, leading to the seizure of a large quantity of ganja-laced chocolates and banned tobacco products.
The surprise operation, led by Deputy Commissioner Pavam Kumar Reddy, began at 6 PM and involved around 100 officers. Authorities confiscated 5,250 ganja chocolates, 30 Hans sachets, 80 packets of Swagath Gold tobacco, 270 Vimal pan masala packets, and 270 V‑1 tobacco packets. In another stash, they found 49 ganja chocolates, 18 Hans sachets, and 6 mava packets.
Huge crackdown on Ganja chocolates, gutka seized in raid near SRM University.
Tambaram police raided student hostels, apartments, shops and hotels near SRM University in Kattankulathur and seized large quantities of ganja‑laced chocolates and banned tobacco products.
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The raids were part of a broader effort to address the sale of narcotics and gutka targeted at students in the area. Police are now investigating to identify the suppliers and distributors behind these illegal sales.
The private university in Potheri attracts students not just from Tamil Nadu, but from across India, and the Tambaram Police Commissionerate had received multiple complaints about cannabis and other narcotics being sold to students in the vicinity.
On the evening of the operation, over 60 officers, led by Deputy Commissioner Pavan Kumar Reddy, were divided into 20 teams to carry out raids on private apartments, pet shops, and tea stalls in the Potheri region.
Among those arrested were Dodan Banga, 37, from West Bengal; Ranjith, 25, from Potheri; Mohammed Fareed, 50, from Maraimalai Nagar; and Praveen Kumar, 37, from Kuduvancheri. Also arrested were Ignas Shankaracharya, 21, a B.Tech student from Uttar Pradesh, and Saurav Kumar, 18, who were both found to be involved in selling narcotics. The six individuals were later presented before the Chengalpattu Criminal Court.
In August 2024, a major drug crackdown took place at SRM Engineering College in Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, after reports of ganja circulation among students. Around 500 police officers conducted early morning raids on college hostels and nearby student accommodations, arresting 30 students in possession of ganja and other narcotics. The operation follows prior incidents, including a 2022 clash over drug sales between students from northern states. Police have since extended raids to rented properties linked to students.
(With inputs from Dinamalar)
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