The police have raided farmland in which opium was being illegally cultivated in Mekalmardi village of Bailhongal taluk in Belgaum district, and have arrested six persons. Acting on a tip-off, Deputy Superintendent of Police of Bailhongal subdivision S.B. Patil, Circle Police Inspector Arunkumar Happali, Sub-Inspector of Nesargi P.B. Neelgar and their staff conducted the raid. Superintendent of Police Sandeep Patil visited the spot.
The arrested persons have been identified as Malliksaab Meerasaab Modagi (46), Rajesaab Meerasaab Modagi (40), Imamsaab Meerasaab Modagi (44), Fakrusaab Madarsaab Modagi (28), Bahubali Kubendra Hulmani (28) and Jinappa Fakeerappa Hulmani (50). They were produced before a court and remanded in judicial custody.
Superintendent of Police Sandeep Patil said that the arrested men were cultivating opium illegally amidst chilli and garlic cultivations so that opium was not visible to public. Mr. Sandeep Patil said that they had got the information that the arrested men had plans to sell raw opium in Belgaum and Kolhapur (Maharashtra), and that the police were trying to find out who they were planning to sell it to. He urged the residents in other villages across the district to inform the police about such illegal cultivation of opium.
