Moodbidri, July 26: The timely action of social workers and social media helped a retired executive engineer who was missing from Tirupati, reunited with his family members at Yedapadavu.

On July 15, retired executive engineer Subraya Karanth (78) of Shibrikere in Yedapadavu was missed in Tirupati and traced in Chennai on July 20.

What happened?

On July 14, Subraya Karanth along with his wife started their journey from Mangaluru to reach their daughter’s house at Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh. Because of amnesia and ill-health, he alighted at Tirupati railway station due to confusion on July 15. His wife did not notice this. Later, Karanth took another train and reached Chennai.

As soon as the news of missing spread, family members rushed to Tirupati and searched all places including hotels and lodges for four days. When they checked the CCTV footage, they found that Karanth was getting into Chennai train. After reaching Chennai, Karanth wandered there and collapsed due to ill-health. Suddenly, a social worker Venkatesh rushed to help him. When checked, Venkatesh found a paper piece in Karanth’s pocket, in which ‘CH Medical’ of Moodbidri was mentioned. Based on the note, Venkatesh contacted the medical shop over phone. Suddenly, CH Abdul Gafur who is also a social worker, got Karanth’s photo through mobile and forwarded it to the WhatsApp blood group friends for response. After getting complete details on Karanth from WhatsApp group admin Rizwan, Abdul contacted the family members of Karanth and informed the news. Later, the family members rushed to Chennai and brought Karanth back on last Saturday.

Now, the family members of Karanth thanked the concerns and efforts of social workers and response of WhatsApp group for reuniting their family member.



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Bengaluru (PTI): Two alleged interstate drug peddlers, including a woman, have been arrested with narcotic substances worth Rs 11.50 crore, police said on Tuesday.

The arrests were made recently following a raid conducted by the Narcotics Control Wing of the Central Crime Branch (CCB) in Bagalur police station limits, they said.

Police said 8,335 LSD strips, five kg of Hydro Ganja, 534 grams of Charas, two mobile phones and a two-wheeler were seized from their possession.

"Based on a tip-off, two interstate drug peddlers, including a woman, were apprehended. Both had been residing in Bengaluru for the past year and were involved in an organised illegal drug distribution network. They were receiving narcotic substances from a Kerala-based individual residing in Thailand and distributing them to customers as per his instructions, thereby earning illegal profits," a senior police officer said.

Addressing a press conference here, Seemant Kumar Singh said this was the first time such a huge quantity of LSD had been recovered in Bengaluru.

“We are trying to find out from where it has been sourced and where it was meant to be supplied. We have some specific inputs about the intended targets. However, without concrete evidence, we cannot conclude. We are working to establish how such a huge quantity was procured and for whom it was meant,” he said.

Singh added that further investigation is underway to trace the supply chain and identify those involved in the distribution network.

A case has been registered against them under the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act) at Bagalur Police Station, and further investigation is in progress, police said.

In another operation, 1.5 kg Hydro Ganja was seized by the officials at K G Nagar police station here, police said.

The contraband had been smuggled via international parcel services and cleverly concealed inside chocolate and biscuit boxes to avoid suspicion, and the estimated value is Rs 1.5 crore, the officer said.

A case has been registered, and efforts are ongoing to trace the accused, police said.

An interstate accused was arrested in the Whitefield police station limits, for selling narcotic drugs on March 1, they said.

Police said 27.239 kg Ganja, 3.200 kg Hashish Oil, along with the two-wheeler used in the crime, with a total worth of Rs 55 lakh was seized from him, they added.

In a separate operation, two foreign women who were overstaying their visas were apprehended within the limits of Mico Layout Police Station, officials said.

They have been handed over to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) and subsequently sent to the Foreigners Detention Centre as per legal procedures, they added.