Hyderabad: Six Hotel Management students caught for drug consumption

Hyderabad Narcotics Police caught several students from a reputed hotel management college in Begumpet after confirming drug use on campus. Six students tested positive for marijuana and were sent for rehabilitation. Parents requested leniency, promising cooperation with police authorities

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Narcotics Police Station (HNPS) of ‘EAGLE’ Force caught several students from a reputed hotel management institute in Begumpet after credible surveillance revealed drug consumption activities on campus. Of them, six per confirmed to have consumed drugs.

During interrogation, 11 students admitted to consuming marijuana. Further, urine drug tests conducted in the presence of their parents and college principal confirmed that six of them tested positive for THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol), a banned psychotropic substance under the NDPS Act, 1985.

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According to the police, all six youths, including two girls aged in their twenties, are final-year students of Bachelor’s in Catering Technology and Culinary Arts at a college in Begumpet. The consumption reportedly occurred during a birthday party of one of their classmates.

A case was registered under the NDPS Act at Hyderabad Narcotics Police Station. The students were counselled in the presence of their parents and college authorities, and subsequently sent to a government de-addiction centre for rehabilitation.

Parents of students requested immunity from prosecution, assuring full cooperation. Police officials said that if the students complete rehabilitation satisfactorily, the case would be withdrawn.

Investigations further revealed that Jason, a resident of SR Nagar and a mutual friend of two of the accused, supplied the ganja. One of the students had a history of drug use during his previous stint at a University in Karnataka before joining the Hyderabad institute.

Authorities noted that this was not the first drug-related incident at the institute. Despite prior counselling and awareness sessions by EAGLE Force and HNEW, the recurrence of such cases indicates lax monitoring by the management. Earlier, some students were let off after counselling, but this time, a criminal case has been booked to set a precedent.

Police officials stressed that going forward, any student found consuming drugs will face prosecution and mandatory rehabilitation before their name is cleared from police records.

Parents urged both the college and families to maintain stricter vigilance over students’ behaviour and social circles. They suggested that periodic surprise drug tests be conducted on campus to deter substance abuse.