A 27-year-old man, accused in a ganja smuggling case, slit his throat in the open court hall of Visakhapatnam’s Metropolitan Court premises soon after his conviction. R Appala Naidu is one of the six convicted in a ganja smuggling case in Vishakapatanam. The court pronounced 14 years imprisonment, along with Rs 1 lakh fine, to each of the accused, under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

According to reports, Appala Naidu, who became emotional after the judgement, took out a knife from his pocket and slit his throat. The police immediately shifted him to Vishakaptanam King George Hospital, where he is being treated.

Appala Naidu, who is from MK Patnam in Rolugunta of Vishakapatanam district, was arrested by Kothakoata police in a 2016 case, where he, along with eight others, smuggled as many as 300 kgs of dry ganja. Town Inspector GV Ramana said that Appala was upset with the judgement and decided to end his life.

According to reports, Appala Naidu is in a critical condition and would undergo a surgery.

Vishakapatanam interior areas in the stretches of Eastern Ghats have allegedly become the hotbed of ganja smuggling, where several youths are being systematically drawn into such deals. According to police, ganja is being smuggled to Hyderabad,  Bengaluru and Chennai.

Scores of cases were registered last year and this year. Andhra Pradesh Police and Excise department, along with Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), have arrested many while seizing tonnes of ganja.