Bhubaneswar: A joint team of police, excise and forest officials today destroyed a large-scale poppy (opium) plants which were illegally planted at Dhalabani and Podgarh under Jashipur police limits in Mayurbhanj district today.
Acting on a tip-off about the cultivation of Poppy plants, a joint operation was conducted by the team led by Karanjia SDPO and Jashipur police IIC, along with Excise and Forest staff, in presence of local Tahasildar as Executive Magistrate and independent witnesses for the destruction of illegal cultivation of poppy plant.
Approximately, 13,000 opium plants cultivated in about 28 decimal areas were uprooted and set on fire by pouring kerosene in the presence of the independent witnesses, Executive Magistrate, Forest Officials, Excise officials, and RI.
The uprooted opium plants are valued at approximately Rs 26 lakh, police said through a statement.
As many as 10,000 plants worth Rs 20 lakh were destroyed at Dhalabani while 3,000 plants worth Rs 6 lakh cultivated in seven decimal land were set afire at Podagarh.
Two separate cases have been registered at Jashipur police station under section 18 of the NDPS Act.
