Bhubaneswar: Chattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s statement hemp smuggling From Orissa Other states have focused on the effectiveness of the state government in tackling the drug menace.
Baghel made the statement on Saturday, a day after an SUV was allegedly transported Hemp From Odisha to Madhya Pradesh, one person was killed and several others were injured in a religious procession in Chhattisgarh’s Jashpur district.
“It is often seen that ganja was being transported from Odisha to other states. Odisha government should take strict action against ganja smugglers,” Baghel had told media persons on the sidelines of Jashpur tragedy in Chhattisgarh.
Baghel’s statement came as a shot in the hands of BJP and Congress leaders to target the ruling BJD. “The BJD government has failed to identify the genuine promoters and custodians of hemp cultivation in the state. Former BJP MLA Pradeep Purohit said that mere confiscation and arrest of petty smugglers or carriers will not help in curbing this menace.
Congress spokesperson Debasis Patnaik said that ganja cultivation is going on unabated due to the connivance of several corrupt police and revenue officials with the mafia. He said that several low-level police personnel were arrested in the past for collaborating with drug dealers.
BJD MLA Shashi Bhushan Behera denied the allegations. “The opposition is unaware of the smuggling of ganja and drugs in other states. Police in Odisha is taking strict action. There is a need for interstate coordination to check drug smuggling,” Behera said.
In particular, Chief Secretary Suresh Mohapatra recently asked the police and excise officials to expedite the action. He also emphasized on widespread awareness on alternative livelihood programs for the cultivators of hemp.
Police said they had acquired a record ganja in the recent past. “Our enforcement has increased manifold as a result of which we have seized a record quantity of Ganga and Brown Sugar in the last one year. We seized 1374 quintals of ganja in 2020 as compared to 618 quintals in 2019. Till August this year, we had already seized 1229 quintals of ganja. Properties of several ganja dealers have been attached,” said a senior police officer.
Baghel made the statement on Saturday, a day after an SUV was allegedly transported Hemp From Odisha to Madhya Pradesh, one person was killed and several others were injured in a religious procession in Chhattisgarh’s Jashpur district.
“It is often seen that ganja was being transported from Odisha to other states. Odisha government should take strict action against ganja smugglers,” Baghel had told media persons on the sidelines of Jashpur tragedy in Chhattisgarh.
Baghel’s statement came as a shot in the hands of BJP and Congress leaders to target the ruling BJD. “The BJD government has failed to identify the genuine promoters and custodians of hemp cultivation in the state. Former BJP MLA Pradeep Purohit said that mere confiscation and arrest of petty smugglers or carriers will not help in curbing this menace.
Congress spokesperson Debasis Patnaik said that ganja cultivation is going on unabated due to the connivance of several corrupt police and revenue officials with the mafia. He said that several low-level police personnel were arrested in the past for collaborating with drug dealers.
BJD MLA Shashi Bhushan Behera denied the allegations. “The opposition is unaware of the smuggling of ganja and drugs in other states. Police in Odisha is taking strict action. There is a need for interstate coordination to check drug smuggling,” Behera said.
In particular, Chief Secretary Suresh Mohapatra recently asked the police and excise officials to expedite the action. He also emphasized on widespread awareness on alternative livelihood programs for the cultivators of hemp.
Police said they had acquired a record ganja in the recent past. “Our enforcement has increased manifold as a result of which we have seized a record quantity of Ganga and Brown Sugar in the last one year. We seized 1374 quintals of ganja in 2020 as compared to 618 quintals in 2019. Till August this year, we had already seized 1229 quintals of ganja. Properties of several ganja dealers have been attached,” said a senior police officer.
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