Ketamine network of students busted

TIRUCHY: On the heels of the seizure of ketamine from a gang in the Rock City, the police have scotched an attempt to establish a local network for trading narcotic substances by roping in college students.

Eight persons were also arrested in this regard. On April 16, the Tiruchy Cantonment police received a complaint from a youth, P Karthick (23) of Anthanallur, that miscreants had robbed his motorcycle, Rs 12,000 in cash and "a packet of powder".

The personnel alerted Commissioner of Police (CoP) E M Masanamuthu about the 'powder', who then directed that a special team, led by Inspector Sigamani and Sub-Inspector Manimaran, be formed.

The team quickly swooped in and after a search operation arrested S Rajasekar (40) of Sangiliandapuram, Tamil Selvan (25), his brother Tennarasu (22), M Nariraj (30) of Keezha Kalkondarkottai and R Siva (23) of Thanjavur, and seized a packet containing 900 gm of a narcotic substance, Karthick's motorcycle and his cash. But, their interrogation revealed that they knew nothing about the powder.

The police then sent the packet for a laboratory test to Chennai. The result, which came out on Thursday, revealed that the powder was ketamine hydrochloride, an anesthetic which is also an abused substance.

Subsequently, the police grilled the five men and based on their confessions, the police arrested A Manimaran (35) of Mela Kalkondarkottai, Noor Mohammed (32) of Ariamangalam and S Vivekanandan (22) of the same area.

Investigations revealed that Karthick, Vivekanadan and Nariraj are students of a private college here.

Rajasekar, who runs a gym at Ariamangalam, a hit among college students here, allegedly asked them on April 16 to taste powdered ketamine.

The gang of students reportedly tried to establish a local network. The plan, however, was nipped in the bud by the prompt action of the police.