Three engineering students held for ganja peddling in Odisha

Cuttack: Three engineering students were arrested by the Central Excise Intelligence officials in connection with ganja (dry cannabis) peddling in Odisha’s silver city Cuttack this morning.

The officials seized 32 kg ganja and a car following a raid at Link Road.

The three accused were identified as Asish Kumar Digal, Manomalia Digal and Ranjan Kumar Digal. They are the students of a private engineering college in Bhubaneswar.

According to reports, the ganja was being smuggled from Kandhamal to Balasore. Acting on a tip-off, the excise officials conducted raid at Link Road and seized a car of the brand Maruti Suzuki in which the accused youth were travelling with the ganja.

“On directive by Excise Commissioner Bhupendra Singh Poonia and based on the intelligence report by Excise Deputy Commissioner Ramchandra Palta, the raid was conducted at Link Road on Sunday morning. We seized a car and 32 kn ganja worth over Rs 4 lakh. Three persons were arrested on charges of peddling the ganja. They identified themselves as the engineering students,” said Central Excise Intelligence Inspector Jagdish Chandra Samal.

However, the students are yet to disclose details about their education and college. The ganja seizure is a major success for us during the elections. The probe is underway, he said.