Jharkhand police have urged the Forest Department to identify the spots where opium cultivation is rampant in the coming months so that police could take legal action.
The suggestions were forwarded during the day-long meeting on the issue of ‘drug trafficking and concerted efforts’ held at police headquarters on Thursday.
The participants also talked on the responsibility of panchayat representatives to inform the police regarding opium growing in their area. The participants were of the view that identity of the informer would be kept a secret. A discussion also took place on rewarding the informers. An official informed that the opium cultivation takes place in remote inaccessible areas, a large part of which is forest land. He said that issue of determining the ownership of land where the crops is being cultivated was also discussed as it would help police in taking legal action.
It may be stated here that several districts namely Ranchi, Chatra, Saraikela, Latehar, Palamau. Khunti and Hazaribag have been declared sensitive in this regard.
Around 60 officials from various departments chalked out a strategy for preventing opium cultivation and smuggling from the state in the discussion.
“It was a sensitization programme for officials of all concerned departments before the start of the sowing season of opium crop. The strategy to prevent illegal cultivation was framed. Several departments including police, excise, forest, revenue intelligence, CRPF and health department participated in the meeting,” said the ADG (Operations) RK Mallick.
A total of 14 DSPs were also trained on NDPS act and the ways to carry out investigation in this connection.