Baripada: In a major success to the police forces against illegal opium cultivation, the Karanjia Police has destroyed more than 1.5 lakh opium plants worth more than Rs 3 Crore. According to Police, the illegal cultivation was destroyed in Similipal forest range of Mayurbhanj district. Police personnel and Excise Department officials destroyed the plants near Jojagada and Phulbadi villages in the presence of Jashipur Tahasildar and forest department officials.
A special operation was conducted by SDPO Karanjia and IIC Jashipur for this purpose and two cases (No-66/24 and 67/24) have been registered at Jashipur police station under section 18 of the NDPS Act in this connection.