Suspecting that extensive illegal hemp cultivation in some parts of the State is benefiting the Maoists directly, the Odisha police have taken up cudgels to destroy the cultivations and initiate criminal proceedings against those land owners who are letting their terrains to grow hemp.
Cultivation of Indian hemp or cannabis is outlawed in the country for the intoxicating substances contained in its flowers and seeds. These substances are sources of hashish and ganja preparation, and those who cultivate cannabis invite a prison term of 10 years.
“We suspect the Maoist organisations are encouraging hemp cultivation in certain districts of the State and these outlawed organisations are reaping rich dividends by this illegal trade,” said DGP Sanjiv Marik here on Friday after reviewing the efforts of a multi-agency working towards destruction of hemp cultivation in the State for last two years.
Ever since it was perceived that the Maoists are encouraging hemp cultivation in an organised way, the police have been making attempts to destroy these cultivations and block the fund flow to the Red rebel organisations, he said.
Sources said that in the year 2011-12, nearly 1,575 acres of hemp cultivation were destroyed by the police in the State, and in the following year 1,305 acres were in target. However, after forming a multi-agency squad comprising excise, revenue and forest officials, the police were able to destroy 3,523 acres of hemp cultivations in the year 2013-14.
At a State-level conference here on the day, officers from these departments decided that vigorous efforts would be made to destroy hemp cultivations and invoke provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act to initiate punitive actions against the hemp cultivators.