Bengaluru, April 9 A man seen in a disoriented state in a video that has gone viral on social media, with claims that he was under the influence of a "zombie drug," had not consumed any narcotic or psychotropic substance, police clarified on Thursday.
The man underwent a medical examination, and the report confirmed the absence of any traces of narcotic substances, the Bengaluru police said.
The police also urged the public not to spread unverified or misleading information on social media platforms, as such content can create unnecessary panic and damage the reputation of individuals.
The footage, widely circulating on social media, showed a man standing motionless. People claimed he might be under the influence of a synthetic "zombie drug" and expressed concerns about its availability in the city.
"A video circulating on Instagram showing a person allegedly under the influence of a "zombie drug" has come to the attention of the Bangalore City Police. In this connection, officers of Bagalur Police Station traced and secured the individual near Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology, Yelahanka. The person was immediately subjected to a detailed medical examination," the police said in a release.
"The medical reports confirmed that no (traces of) known narcotic or psychotropic substances were detected. It has been ascertained that the individual is suffering from arthritis and had consumed prescribed pain medication along with alcohol, which resulted in his disoriented condition as seen in the video," it said.
The inquiry revealed that the individual had come to Bengaluru in search of livelihood and had been residing here for the past three months, it said, adding that further investigation is ongoing.
The police warned that strict action will be taken against persons found spreading false information or rumours.
"The Bangalore City Police reiterates its commitment to zero tolerance towards drug abuse and appeals to the public to inform the police about such incidents instead of circulating unverified content online," it added.