Coimbatore police launch efforts to nab ‘zombie’ youth, others seen in viral drug abuse videos

COIMBATORE: The Karumbukadai police in the city have begun a probe to nab some youths who are seen in a video injecting drugs into their veins. The video surfaced in social media on Friday. Another video that too surfaced in social media on Friday showed a youth standing still like a "zombie" on a roadside. According to a police officer, the youth, who is a daily wage earner and staying on the roadside near Karumbukadai, is a drug abuser. Police registered a case and began an investigation to nab the people seen in the videos, including the youth who was seen standing motionless on the road."We have identified the person who was acting as if he were standing still on a busy road. Similarly, investigations are under way to trace the youths seen injecting drugs," said commissioner of police N Kannan.Police have intensified patrolling in areas known for substance abuse and are keeping a close watch on social media trends. Experts suggest that as synthetic drugs become more accessible through the dark web, public awareness and immediate reporting are crucial for preventing a crisis.