Namakkal: A six-member drug peddling gang was arrested at Kumarapalayam here on Friday night based on a tip that they were selling painkillers to school and college students to get high. Police have seized 108 strips, each containing 10 tablets each, of painkillers from the gang.A police officer identified the arrested six as Harish, 36, of Bhavani in Erode; Thirunavukkarasu, 37, of Apex Colony at Kumarapalayam in Namakkal; Srinivasan, 20, of Narayana Nagar in Erode; Karthi, 22, of Veerappan Chatram in Erode; Hakkim, 25, of Kanirowthar Kulam area in Erode; and Vasanth, 22, of Samyampalayam in Namakkal. He said the gang had been operating in Kumarapalayam area for the past few weeks. “They purchased painkiller tablets from a Pune-based company, which couriered the contraband to them after receiving payment. While they paid only Rs5 per tablet, they were selling the same for anywhere between Rs500 and Rs1,000.” According to TA Dhavamani, Kumarapalayam police inspector, the gang was also helping students dissolve painkillers in saline solution and inject the same into their veins to get high. “They were selling syringes as well. We suspect that more people are involved in the case. Further investigation is under way.” On Saturday morning, the arrested six were produced before court, which remanded them in judicial custody for 15 days. They were subsequently lodged in jail.
