Railway cops seize 156 kg ganja from Konark passengers

Warangal Urban: The Government Railway Police (GRP) have on Tuesday seized 156 kilograms of dry ganja (cannabis) during inspections by special team at Warangal railway station.

Eight persons, four women and four men, were arrested from whom six mobile phones along with cash of Rs 2,300 have been seized. They were found travelling in a sleeper coach in Konark Express bound to Mumbai from Bhubaneshwar in Odisha.

The Deputy Superintendent of Police of GRP P Srinivas told presspersons that the accused boarded the train at Srikakulam Road railway station to go to Mumbai to sell ganja being carried in 15 luggage bags. As they were found suspicious, they were taken into custody and their luggage was checked.

The substance was found packed in 17 packets put in the bags and its value in Mumbai market is said to be around Rs 17 lakh. During the questioning, the accused confessed that they had purchased dry ganja at their native places in Odisha by paying Rs 500 per kg.

The accused identified as Rebati Nayak, Pankaj Mishal, Nistha Lima, Gowri Pedhanui, Kumaramani Nayak, Pradmod Paricha, Gajendra Behera and Deepthi Mishal belong to different villages of Rayagada and Gajapati districts of Odisha.

GRP inspector J Venkat Rathnam and others were present.