Bengaluru: The Karnataka Police have arrested the man who posted the viral video claiming the availability of “zombie drugs” in Bengaluru city on Friday. However, Home Minister G. Parameshwara has clarified that no such drugs exist in Bengaluru.
He stated that the man in the video had consumed alcohol and taken tablets simultaneously, which caused him to behave unusually on a public road.
The police in Bengaluru have arrested the accused, identified as Hemanth Kumar, a resident of the Vidyaranyapura locality. He had recorded the video three days ago and posted it on social media.
The video showed a man acting like a “zombie” through his body language on a busy arterial road in broad daylight.
The police have also tracked down the man seen in the video in the city. He was subjected to a medical examination to check for the presence of narcotic substances.
The police stated that no narcotic substance was found during the tests.
The accused, Hemanth Kumar, works as a field executive for an eyewear brand. Police investigations revealed that while he was travelling on Bagalur Main Road at around 11.30 a.m. on April 7, he spotted a man in an intoxicated state, struggling to walk and behaving unusually. He recorded a 32-second video of the man and posted it on his Instagram account, the police said.
The police were able to track him with the help of the scooter seen in the video. The clip later went viral and raised concerns about so-called “zombie drugs.”
Sharing the video, Kannada film popular hero Duniya Vijay appealed to parents to take care of their children. “A new narcotic drug is available in Bengaluru, and youth should be careful. Parents must also remain vigilant. The police department should clarify the facts regarding the ‘zombie drug’. People must inform the police if they receive any information about it,” he said.
After the video went viral on social media, the police launched an investigation and identified Hemanth as the person behind it. Police have also clarified that claims about “zombie drugs” are false.
Responding to the rumours, Home Minister G. Parameshwara dismissed the claims as baseless.
He said preliminary information indicated that the individual was a lorry driver who had come from northern states such as Haryana or Punjab for work. The person had reportedly consumed medication for an illness along with alcohol, which led to his unusual behaviour.
Parameshwara further clarified that no criminal case has been registered in connection with the incident. He added that the Bengaluru Police Commissioner had briefed him and confirmed that there was no evidence of any “zombie drug” usage.
He also stated that the individual who circulated the claims on social media had been questioned and admitted to posting the information deliberately.
(IANS)
