Operation Black Hunt, launched by the district police in the face of increasing ganja movement in the district, has fetched a huge haul of ganja. The latest was on Sunday when police caught a 38-year-old man from the town with 1.25 kg of ganja.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Biju K. Stephen said the arrested, Babumon, had earlier been arrested by the Excise along with 1 kg of ganja from the Kanjikkuzhy area about two years ago and had been undergoing a prison term. He had come out on bail three weeks ago.
On Saturday, the Excise officers in the district caught ganja and hashish oil to the tune of Rs.1 crore from Changanassery. They had arrested A.K. Sajikumar of Aanitaamkunnel House, Idukki, who was staying at a rented house at Pampady and seized three-and-a-half kg of ganja and four-and-a-half kg of hashish oil kept at his hideout near the KSRTC depot at Changanassery.
A team led by Changanassery range Excise Inspector Biju Varghese and Kottayam IB Inspector T.V. Divakaran had been keeping track of Sajikumar’s movement for more than a month. They have come to the conclusion that one Shaji, also from Idukki, but presently residing in Andhra Pradesh is the source. A few years ago both were engaged in ganja cultivation in the Edamalakudy area in Idukki. With ganja cultivation in Idukki becoming risky on account of frequent intensive raids, Shaji had migrated to Andhra Pradesh and Sajikumar had migrated to Malaysia in search of a job. However, he had to return empty handed.
Meanwhile, Mr. Stephen said the police had identified a dozen children below the age of 18 who were addicted to ganja.
They were now undergoing counselling, he said.
Man held with
1.25 kg of ganja
on Sunday
Over a dozen children undergoing counselling
