Illegal marijuana plantations worth around Rs.60 crore have been destroyed during joint raids by police and excise departments in Kandhamal district of Odisha since October 19.
These plantations were located in remote pockets of Phiringia block of the district. It was revealed that marijuana was being cultivated in an organised manner in the region. Raids conducted at remote pockets near Dimiriguda and Rebingia villages under Phiringia police station on October 27 revealed that the cultivators had also established irrigation facility. The plantation was on over 190 acres and worth around Rs.19.50 crore, police officials said. Twelve persons have been arrested in this connection. Motor pumps and pipes used for irrigation have been seized.
On October 19, similar raids in Phiringia police station area had led to destruction of ganja plantations worth Rs.24.31 crore. On October 20, ganja worth around Rs.15 crore was destroyed in Gochhapada area of the district.
Illicit cultivation of marijuana continues in remote areas of Kandhamal district, which is promoted by financers from outside. There have also been allegations of involvement of some police and excise personnel in the smuggling of marijuana cultivated in Kandhamal to other parts of Odisha and outside the State. On June 1, a police constable and a home guard of Phulbani police station were among three arrested in relation to marijuana smuggling from Kandhamal district. In July 2014, two Assistant Sub-Inspectors of police were suspended in seizure of ganja in Phiringia police station limits.
A police home guard and a former home guard were among those arrested in this case.
