Seven illiciit Opium farming cases held within 17 days in Chhattisgarh
Seventh case of Illicit Opium farming
Raigarh | Correspondent: In just the span of 17 days, Chhattisgarh police has busted the seventh case of illicit opium farming which was reported from the Lailunga station area in Raigarh district. After the information surfaced security agencies and the administration were put on high alert. A joint team of the police and the administration conducted raids in Navin Ghatgaon and Mudagaon, seizing a massive quantity of opium crops.
Three alleged farmers related to the case namely Sadhram Nath, Abhimanyu Nagwansi, and Tansingh Nagwanshi were arrested while one more alleged accused is still absconding.
On Monday morning, acting on a tip-off from BJP leader Ravi Bhagat and under the directives of SSP Shashi Mohan Singh, two police teams carried out the raids.
The investigation revealed that the accused farmers had cultivated opium across several separate patches of land, each spanning approximately 10 to 15 decimal units.
At the scene, the police recovered not only standing crops but also seized remnants of dried plants, leaves, and stems from the farmers' homes.
The statistics emerging from the ongoing statewide crackdown on illicit narcotics are startling.
A look at the figures reveals that on March 7, opium worth ₹7.88 crore was seized in Samoda, Durg. Subsequently, crops spread across acres of land were destroyed in Kusmi and Karedha in Balrampur district. Raigarh's Tamnar block also features on this list, where opium valued at ₹2.5 crore was confiscated on March 20.
Meanwhile, the Kumhari police have also dealt a blow to the opium trafficking network by apprehending two additional accused individuals.
After scrutinizing the Call Detail Records (CDRs) and bank transaction history of drug peddler Gurmel Singh, the police arrested suppliers linked to Jharkhand and the Tatibandh area of Raipur. Meanwhile, in connection with the Samoda case, the police have also taken into custody Sukhram Bishnoi an accused from Rajasthan from whom doda chura (crushed opium pods) and cash were recovered. Currently, samples of the opium seized in Lailunga have been sent for forensic analysis, and the search for the mastermind behind this entire network is ongoing.
Following the revelation of large-scale cultivation of narcotic crops in the Tamnar and Lailunga regions, Nagendra Negi, President of the District Congress Committee (Rural), has raised serious questions regarding the functioning of the state government. He alleged that organized gangs are operating within the state under the influence of political power, and it is under their patronage that this illicit opium trade is flourishing.
Taking aim at the administrative vigilance or lack thereof Negi stated that the discovery of opium cultivation in Navin Ghatgaon and Mudagaon (Lailunga) following the earlier discovery in Amaghat (Tamnar) serves as proof that a massive network is actively operating within the district.
He expressed astonishment that this illegal trade had continued unchecked in remote areas for the past two years, yet the Agriculture, Revenue, and Police departments remained completely oblivious to it. Terming this a case of gross negligence on the part of officials, the Congress leader questioned how such a massive racket could operate right under the very nose of the administration, and why no action has been taken against the responsible officers thus far.
Labeling this entire episode as a failure of governance, the Congress party has demanded a high-level inquiry into the matter. The party asserts that the administration must not merely engage in tokenism by taking action against "small fry," but must instead expose the true faces hidden behind this racket. Negi has issued a warning that if strict action is not taken against the culprits, he will take this issue directly to the public.
(File Photo)
