The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Role of influential persons in ganja trade suspected

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Thursday, Feb 21, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Role of influential persons in ganja trade suspected

D. Chandra Bhaskar Rao

Produced in Malkangiri, it is routed through Bhadrachalam to northern States

Law catches up: Police with the alleged ganja smugglers in Sileru basin.

LOWER SILERU (KHAMMAM DT.): Who is patronising the gangs involved in ganja traffic from the Sileru basin? Is it part of a much larger operation orchestrated by people with stakes in the global drug industry? This has been engaging the minds of the law enforcing agencies which have declared a virtual war against the clandestine but lucrative trade on Andhra - Orissa border.

Over 7,000 acres of land is estimated to be under ganja cultivation in the hilly terrain stretching right from the confluence point of Sabari and Sileru- (both tributaries of Gadavari) to Chitrakonda. The crop is owned by poor tribal farmers of Orissa. But in reality, nothing belongs to them except the land, according to police sources.

The entire investment on the crop - from seed supply to harvesting - comes from highly influential persons who could be from Andhra Pradesh, say the officials. Huge quantities of ganja produced in Malkangiri district of Orissa is being routed through Bhadrachalam to North Indian states.

The demand for ganja is on the rise in the metropolitan cities such as Mumbai, Calcutta and Delhi. The consumption of ganja in a pilgrim centre in Maharashtra is around 150 kg a day. Much of the demand is being met by the traffickers from this region.

Whenever police intensify checks in the land route, smugglers use country boats for shifting the contraband from the forests to stocks points along the highways. A majority of those arrested are poor farmers hailing from the tribal pockets of the neighbouring State.

Maoists target traders

The Maoists too have taken a tough stand against ganja cultivation. But, it cost them the sympathy of tribals. The extremists are now targeting traders and transporters of ganja.

Huge consignments of ganja costing about Rs. 5 crore were seized by the police in Bhadrachalam division and destroyed last year. Mothugudem ( Lower Sileru) police station alone accounted for one third of the seizures and arrest of 60 persons. Two of the accused, who belonged to Kerala, were convicted last month.

A crack down on growers in Manuguru sub division revealed in the involvement of influential persons and attracted the attention of the Narcotics Bureau a few years ago paving way for action against some officials.

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