VISHVENDU JAIPURIAR
Hazaribag, Dec 25: Superintendent of police Manoj Ratan Chauthe on Sunday constituted a joint team of forest and police officials to put a check on poppy cultivation in the district. The team destroyed poppy plants on over 75 acres of land in the remote village of Chouparan sharing its border with Chatra and also Gaya of Bihar using ten tractors and one earth mover.
Chauthe said that the team was led by DSP CCR Arif Ekram beside DFO (wildlife) Avinash Chaudhary; N K Singh, assistant commandant of CRPF 22 battalion; Barhi DSP Nazir Akhtar and police inspector of Barhi Shyam Chandra Singh. The team also had armed jawans of CRPF and police.
Chauthe said that the team reached Mudhia village in Chouparan and destroyed poppy plants used in making opium and brown sugar. A total of 20 tractors and an earth mover were used to destroy the cultivated 75 acres of land. Chauthe directed Chouparan police to identify the men behind the cultivation and to lodge an FIR against them. He also asked them to launch an awareness drive in the area to educate people against poppy cultivation. Chauthe further appealed to the villagers to provide names of such persons involved in poppy cultivation assuring them of not disclosing their names.
