THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, Dec 16: Now, forest department has stepped up its crusade against the banned narcotics poppy.
Successful raids in Palamu and Chatra districts
Its officials are raiding poppy cultivation. Palamu and Chatra districts have seen the forest department’s impactful intervention in poppy cultivation.
Forest officials in collaboration with the police have destroyed 15 acres of poppy cultivation in Manatu police station limits.
Similarly, 20 acres of poppy cultivation have been devastated by the forest department in Chatra in close backup from the police. Areas like Chatra, Simarya, Lawalong and Tandwa which are highly prone to poppy cultivation are facing the heat of the forest department’s strike.
This paradigm shift in the onslaughts against the poppy cultivation from aloofness to the problem till the recent past by the forest department to direct and head-on strike against the narcotics is the serious motivation for it by the Head of the Forest Force (HoFF) Satyajit Singh.
The Jharkhand Story correspondent spoke to the Head of the Forest Force Satyajit Singh to know how forest officials are so engaged in the fight against the drug poppy.
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Forest dept’s approach intensified
Satyajit Singh was modest in his reply saying, “The forest officials used to take on the poppy cultivation in the past too. Now it has been vigorised. Our drive is now intense.”
Satyajit Singh further added, “We have asked our forest officials to be cool and calm in their fight against drugs. There is no room for any overshoot. Caution and discretion are the best tools. We have asked our men not to be overzealous. Fight against poppy cultivation is a long-drawn strategic battle.”
“Poppy cultivation is in a vegetative condition. It’s much easier to ruin it. An early destruction of the poppy at its vegetative condition by our team is a serious blow,” added Satyajit Singh.
Six poppy cultivators arrested
Six poppy cultivators have been arrested. These six are all named accused. Forest officials have invoked sections of the forest acts including the encroachment of land while police have invoked NDPS sections too, reiterated Satyajit Singh.
“There is a modus operandi. Land tenants who have lands close to the forest land just overstep on the forest land. They encroach our forest land and start growing poppy,” this is now being busted by the forest officials.
