More than 13,000 opium plants worth Rs 26 lakh destroyed in Odisha

Baripada: Taking major action against illegal cultivation of opium, police, excise and forest departments on Saturday raided two villages of Jashipur and set fire to more than 13,000 plants. Opium was cultivated here in the foothills of the Similipal Biosphere Reserve.

Mayurbhanj Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Dolamani Bhoi said the plants were worth more than Rs 26 lakh.
He said, “Acting on a tip-off about illegal cultivation of opium in Thakurgoda and Bundeiposi villages of Jashipur, a team led by Karanjia sub-divisional police officer Subrata Kumar, Jashipur IIC Sanjukta Mahalik, arrested excise and forest officials. “Raids were conducted in areas with.” ,

During the raid, smuggling cultivation was found on more than 28 decimils of land. Soon after, the plants were uprooted and set on fire in the presence of the local tehsildar.
“Around 10,000 opium plants worth about Rs 20 lakh were cultivated in Thakurgora village, while at least 3,000 such plants worth Rs 6 lakh were cultivated in Thakurgoda village,” the DSP said in two separate cases under Section 18 of the NDPS. They went.” Acts were registered in this regard.
He said the local revenue inspector has been asked to investigate whether the lands were government or private, and to find out who was involved in the illegal business. “Necessary action will be taken against the culprits,” Bhoi said.