In a joint operation, police and excise officials on Monday destroyed ganja plants worth over Rs 10 crore in Gochhapada of Kandhamal district, informed Kandhamal district Superintendent of Police (SP) Mitrabhanu Mahapatra.
The officials conducted a raid in the Maoist-infested Gochhapada and destroyed approximately 95,000 fully grown ganja plants spread in an area of 95 acres. However, no arrest was made in this regard. It is suspected that those involved in the illegal cultivation got wind of the raid and fled from the spot.
Central paramilitary forces like CRPF and BSF jawans were also roped in to provide backup in the operation, sources said.
Meanwhile, a case has been lodged at the Gochhapada police station under Sections 20 of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 in the connection. Notably, Maoists are suspected to be involved in the illegal ganja cultivation.