Opium farm worth Rs 42 lakh destroyed in Mayurbhanj

BARIPADA: A joint operation by Thakurmunda police, forest, and excise departments led to a large illegal opium cultivation on Wednesday.

Officials discovered 2,100 plants on one acre of revenue land near Edalbedha village, with an estimated value of Rs 42 lakh. SDPO Karanjia, Subrat Kumar revealed that local tribals, allegedly with support of the opium traders who pursued them for more value in the market were involved in the cultivation. The flowering plants were uprooted and later set on fire in presence of Thakurmunda tehsildar Sambit Kumar Kar which took four hours to complete.