Tamil Nadu police arrested five for selling painkillers without prescription to school and college students in Vellore district.
Published Sep 05, 2024 | 9:25 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 05, 2024 | 9:25 PM
Five were arrested from Vellore for selling drugs without subscription
Tamil Nadu special police arrested a gang of five people for allegedly supplying pain-killer medicine to school and college students in Vellore district. Cops also seized a car, four motorcycles, 1,100 narcotic pills, seven cell phones and ₹5000 in cash from them.
On 1 September, two people were arrested for the illegal sale of opioid painkillers under the jurisdiction of the Katpadi police station and sent to judicial custody.
On Wednesday, 4 September, following a tip-off that Tapentonal, a pain killer was being sold illegally in the area under the Bagayam police station, Vellore district Superintendent of Police N Mathivanan ordered an investigation by a special team.
The special team included Deputy Superintendent of Police Prithviraj Chauhan, Bagayam Circle Police Inspector Nagarajan and Sub Inspector Sivakumar, which appointed a cop to patrol the Muthumariamman temple area next to Mullai Nagar intensively.
The cop, while patrolling, captured the accused – Kishore Kumar – when he was dispensing the orange-coloured pills in a plastic packet to a youngster from Muthu Mandapam. He also seized the stock of pills that Kumar’s two-wheeler contained.
Kishore Kumar was found to be illegally selling the pills and syringes along with his uncle Ranjith and they allegedly procured the pills from one Abhishek of Pallikonda. In the course of the investigation, police also nabbed Bhubalan of Vellore Kaspa and Vignesh and Sivakumar of Old Town, all of whom admitted that they had been engaged in the illegal sale of the pills for two months, and targeted students from nearby schools and colleges.
Police recovered 20 packets containing 10 painkillers each and the two-wheeler used for the sale from the accused. The officials arrested five in total who are in judicial custody and a case has been registered.
Police officials have warned of strict action against those involved in such criminal activities, in light of the arrests.
Tapentadol is an opioid pain medication used to treat moderate to severe pain. It can slow or stop breathing, and is strictly for use under prescription by a registered medical practitioner. It should not be taken in larger doses or for longer periods than prescribed. Even at regular doses, it is known to be habit-forming. Fatal side-effects are likely if it is used in combination with alcohol or other drugs that slow the breathing.
(Edited by Rosamma Thomas with inputs from Baskar P)
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