Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Phulbani, Nov 25:

Police today arrested two persons in two separate incidents in Odisha’s Kandhamal district on charges of ganja smuggling.

man-arrested

Police have seized 57 kilos of ganja and two SUVs from them.

According to reports, Baliguda police today on suspicion detained a Tata Sumo vehicle near Khajurinala village and seized 37 kilos ganja from it. Police arrested one Babula Rana, a resident of Phiringia police limits in this connection.

In another incident, Phiringia police have seized 20 kilos of ganja from a Bolero vehicle and have arrested one Basant Kumar Sahu of Gerupada village in this connection, reports added.

In a related development, police today destroyed two separate ganja plantations in over one acre of land in Tarlendi forested area under Padmapur police limits in Rayagada district.

Police after cutting down ganja plants set them on fire. The exercise was conducted jointly by Gunupur SDPO Aswini Nayak, Deputy Superintendent of Excise Prasanna Kumar Acharya and Forest department officials under orders from Rayagada Collector.

The incident has led to panic among the growers of ganja plants.

“We are destroying ganja plant cultivation in Tarlendi and nearby forested areas. Such exercises with the help of Forest department will be undertaken on a regular basis,” said SDPO Aswini Nayak.