For the last many years in Gajapati district, a powerful mafia are engaging the Adivasis in massive cultivation of ganja in different jungles of the district by paying them paltry remunerations.
The Gajapati police and the Excise Department conducted a raid on a dense jungle near Muthaguda village in Gulaba panchayat of Mohana block on Friday and destroyed ganja plants grown in an area of 32 acre. The estimated value of the ganja plants is said to be Rsseven crore. But nobody has been arrested in this connection.
The Adaba police and the Excise Department’s hundreds of employees conducted the raid and were amazed to see the ganja cultivated in a vast area of 32 acre. The ganja plants had grown to a height of five feet and 80 per cent of them were laden with ganja petals. After a few days the ganja petals would have been collected and transported cladenstinely.
It might be mentioned here that for ganja cultivation cold weather and forest land. The Mafia chooses dense forests as the police and Excise Department would not have any inkling about it. Commoners would fear to venture into the area out of fear of wild animals.
Some Mafia elements from outside the State are carrying out this cultivation. During the raid by the enforcement agencies, the ganja Mafia agents hide in the jungles fearing arrest. Three platoons of police forces led Adaba PS ASI Mukesh lakra and 25 Excise officials had conducted the raid.