In a big crackdown on Maoists, the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has destroyed 500 acres of secret poppy cultivation in Jharkhand. In the year 2017-2018, SSB battalions have successfully destroyed the poppy cultivation on approximately 550 acres of land, said SSB in a statement.
“The average production of opium per acre is 20 kg and cost is Rs 1 lakh per kilogram. The total cost of poppy cultivation destroyed by SSB was of Rs 55 crores,” it added. According to the SSB, in past one year, the battalions destroyed illegal poppy cultivation in 27 areas in state including the remote areas in Ranchi , Khunti, Gaya districts.
The SSB officials engaged in the operation that, this illegal Poppy cultivation is the main source of financial resource of the Naxals.