Hyderabad:A 17-year-old Intermediate student from Balapur died of a suspected medical drug overdose in Balapur on Saturday, while two of his friends were hospitalised.
Police arrested two persons, Sahil, 22, and Sravan, owner of Srinivasa Medical Store, who provided the medicines. They were booked under the BNS and the Juvenile Justice Act.
The victim’s cousin told Deccan Chronicle, “On April 17, he went to meet his friends. When he returned, he began vomiting. Later, he complained of a headache and had more vomiting. When asked, he admitted to injecting medicinal drugs.”
His mother rushed him to a private hospital, and he was later shifted to Osmania Hospital, where doctors placed him on ventilation. Despite their efforts, he died, the cousin said.
All names are being withheld to avoid identifying the minor victim.
The student’s father returned from Dubai after learning of his son’s critical condition. His uncle blamed one Sahil for luring students into addiction.
“Authorities must act against those selling prescription drugs so casually. How did Sahil enter a local community and begin offering drugs that students could access and consume so easily,” he questioned.
Police said the student, along with friends, dissolved painkiller tablets in saline and injected the solution using a syringe for a quicker. Doctors conducted a postmortem, but a short opinion has not been given. Visceral samples were collected to determine the exact cause of death. The condition of two other students undergoing the treatment was reported to be stable.
A source revealed that the students were addicted to drugs. “When they couldn’t access their usual substance, they turned to painkillers as an alternative. To heighten the effect, they increased the dosage. After experiencing vomiting, the other two were also taken to hospital by their parents,” the source said.
Police said Sahil, 22, was the primary accused. “He targeted local youth and convinced them that injecting painkillers dissolved in saline would produce a drowsy high. Initially, he provided the doses for free, drawing the boys into addiction. Once dependent, he started charging them,” a police officer said.
