Raigarh (Chhattisgarh) [India], April 15 (HBTV): Chhattisgarh Police has intensified their crackdown on illegal narcotics after discovering opium cultivation across multiple farms in Naveen Ghat village, deploying drones to monitor remote areas and identify illicit plantations.
Senior Superintendent of Police Shashi Mohan Singh said that police received information about opium cultivation in Naveen Ghat village under Lalunga police station and, upon inspection, found opium plants on the lands of three individuals: Sadhu Ram Nagvanshi, Jagat Ram Nagvanshi, and Abhimanyu Nag.
'Police received information about opium cultivation in Naveen Ghat village under Lalunga police station. Upon arrival, they found opium plants on the lands of three individuals: Sadhu Ram Nagvanshi, Jagat Ram Nagvanshi, and Abhimanyu Nag. The police are verifying land ownership and the roles of those involved. Depending on the findings, charges under the NDPS Act may be filed, and arrests could be made. Following this, we have increased vigilance and are conducting drone surveys, motivating villagers to report such activities, aiming to eradicate such elements from the entire district,' he said.
Earlier in March, around 170 acres of illicit opium cultivation, valued at over INR 275 crore, were destroyed in the remote tribal and hilly areas of Samoli, Khuna, and Pipli in Kotda tehsil of Udaipur district, officials of the Narcotics Control Bureau said.
The operation was carried out jointly by the Narcotics Control Bureau along with the Rajasthan Anti-Narcotics Task Force and state police. Follow-up surveillance is underway to nab the absconding accused.
In a separate incident in February, Bathinda Police arrested two drug traffickers and recovered 6.5 kilograms of opium allegedly smuggled from Rajasthan.
Speaking to ANI, SP City Narinder Singh said, 'During the investigation, they revealed that they had brought the opium from Rajasthan and used to supply it in Bathinda and nearby districts. Six cases under the NDPS Act are registered against Jagsir Singh Seera. He is serving a 10-year sentence in two cases involving commercial charges. He was released on bail in September 2024. After his release, he resumed drug trafficking.'
(ANI)