The police maintain surveillance outside the men’s hostel of the Government Polytechnic College, Kalamassery, following the seizure of a ganja stash during a raid on Thursday night.
| Photo Credit: R.K. Nithin

The Kochi City police have taken into custody two persons, reportedly former students of the Government Polytechnic College, Kalamassery, in connection with the seizure of nearly 2 kg of ganja from the college’s men’s hostel.

Aashik and Sherik, suspected to be dropouts, have been taken into custody. The police suspect them to be behind the supply of the ganja seized, though this is still being verified.

Aiju Thomas, college Principal, said that Aashik was expelled more than a year ago.

“We suspect they were the ones who had fled the hostel at the time of the (police) raid. We are also verifying their credentials,” said P.V. Baby, Assistant Commissioner, Thrikkakara.

About 1.9 kg of ganja was seized from one room and 10 grams from another, while three final-year students were arrested in the overnight raid that started on Thursday night and concluded on Friday around 4 a.m. The raid was based on intelligence reports that ganja had been bought as part of Holi celebrations on Friday. Reportedly, “donations” were collected from students for buying ganja.

Adityan, 20, a Mechanical Engineering student from Alappuzha; Abhiraj, 21, an Automobile Engineering student from Karunagapally; and Akash, 21, a Chemical Engineering student from Kollam, were arrested. Incidentally, Abhiraj is the general secretary of the College Union led by the Students Federation of India (SFI).

According to the police, Akash was found in possession of a medium quantity of around 1.9 kg of ganja and was remanded in judicial custody. Abhiraj and Adityan, allegedly possessed less than 3 grams, which qualifies as small quantity, and were granted bail.

The Academic Council of the college has suspended the arrested students pending inquiry.

The police also seized weighing machines and zip covers reportedly used for selling ganja in smaller quantities, giving the impression that it was not limited to personal consumption, but there was sale as well.