Sonamura, Nov 21 (TIWN): Sustaining the withering pressure created on the Ganja cultivators across the Sonamura Sub-Division following the relentless raids being undertaken under the leadership of the SDM Sonamura-Subhasis Das, another remarkably successful raid was jointly conducted today at the area nearby Fulkumari Darga of Kamalnagar Gram Panchayat of Boxanagar R D Block, during which an all-time high 75,000 Ganja plants spread over a whooping 60 acre area were destroyed by the joint raid-team consisting of select officers and jawans of SP (Enforcement Branch), 158 Battalion BSF, Sonamura Police Station, and Sonamura Sub-Divisional Administration.

The market value of the destroyed plants is estimated to be Rs.18.75 Crore, considering the cannabis yield from every plant to be of 500 gm, as per the standard measurement of Excise Department. The area where the plantations were raised is located at a distance of 1.5-2 Km from the Border Pillar No. 2071-1-S and 2071-8-S under the jurisdiction of BSF Batadola BOP. The operation, carried out under the joint leadership of the SP (EB)-Jitendra Debbarma, SDM Sonamura-Subhasis Das, DC BSF 158 Battalion-Golab Singh, and OC Sonamura PS-Narayan Saha, continued for about five and half hours, from 11 am till 4.30 pm. The SP(EB)-Jitendra Debbarma, has affirmed that the quantum of the plants destroyed today has surpassed all the previous records of destruction anywhere in the State.

SDM Sonamura-Subhasis Das, BSF and Police force destroying ganja plantations. TIWN Pic Nov 21

Besides, the plants being at an advanced stage of maturity, they would have been harvested very soon; and therefore the economic value of the plants destroyed was quite formidable. The raid-team also included the Coy Commanders of BSF Matinagar BOP, Batadola BOP, and Kalamchowra BOP, and the Sr. Excise Inspector of Sonamura, Gopal Das.

SDM Sonamura-Subhasis Das, Police officials with seized 180 kg dried ganja. TIWN Pic Nov 21

Immediately after having destroyed the Ganja plantations, another raid was conducted based on a specific tip-off at the Batadola area of Kamalnagar Gram Panchayat under Boxanagar RD Block from 5 pm, jointly under the leadership of the SDM Sonamura , SP (EB) and OC Sonamura. During the raid, three houses were searched in the locality, and total of 180 kg dried Ganja worth Rs.9 lakh was recovered. The recovered Ganja was concealed in underground chambers in plastic barrels, and also in portable packages. It is apprehended that the Ganja was poised to be smuggled out tonight across the international border. Specific cases have been registered in the Sonamura PS  under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act against the persons from whose houses the Ganja was recovered.

SDM Sonamura-Subhasis Das, Police officials with seized Kerosene oil. TIWN Pic Nov 21

In another surprise raid, the SDM Sonamura-Subhasis Das, had today at about 10.30 am intercepted a Tata DI Vehicle (Registration No. TR 01W 1873) near Kulubari on the Boxanagar Kulubari Road, which was carrying 7 barrels of PDS Kerosene Oil. On being queried, a person named Mustafa Alam introduced himself as the dealer of the Matinagar Fair Price Shop no-II, and claimed that the kerosene was destined for his shop. But on scrutiny of related papers, the SDM Sonamura detected discrepancies in the quantum mentioned in purchase vouchers and the oil being carried on the vehicle, and immediately detained both the vehicle and the keresone oil, and sent them to the custody of Sonamura Police Station.