Despite regular crackdown by the police on the hideouts of criminals, Sonepur, which is known as a commercial hub of undivided Subarnapur and Boudh districts, is fast turning into a breeding ground of ganja smugglers and robbers.
The hemp cultivation is going on unabated over large swathes of land in Boudh and Kandhamal.
The demand of ganja grown in Boudh and Kandhamal is learnt to be of very high quality and hence, its demand is high in the international market.
Given the lucrative returns, many youths from other States collaborate with the local youths for hemp farming and smuggling.
The youths here also earn hefty sums of money by working as informers for bigger contraband racket.
Criminals from Bihar, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, with the help of local youths, plan for smuggling and robbery staying in Sonepur town and nearer by.
A few corrupt police officials help the criminals in expanding their network for their vested interest, it is learnt.
It may be recalled that three constables of Sonepur police station were detained by Kudopali villagers and IIC Srikanta Kumar Tripathy was recently transferred to PTC, Angul, for allegedly having links with the ganja peddlers. Tripathy repeatedly used a smuggler as police witness in many seizure cases of the contraband, proving his nexus with the criminals.
On the other hand, the local youngsters in their made race to be rich overnight and maintain a lavish life style don’t hesitate to commit crimes like robbery, ATM and bank loots by forming gangs with the help of criminals other States. According to statistics available with the police, 93 per cent accused held in robbery cases were found to be ganja smugglers.
During the last two years, the district police here managed to foil several robbery bids and arrested more than 120 people with criminal backgrounds.
Of them more than 50 were from other States. Besides, more than 60 quintals of ganja and more than 30 luxury cars were seized.