Naxals scare away Ganja growers?

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Follow us:WhatsappFacebookTwitterTelegram.cls-1{fill:#4d4d4d;}.cls-2{fill:#fff;}Google NewsThe presence of Naxals in the Western Ghats may have kept the Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) and police on their toes but it has succeeded in scaring away ganja growers. Weeks ago, men from the Anti-Narcotics Cell in Mangalore, acting on a tip-off, trekked deep into the forest in Charmady Ghat. They realised that the information was a hoax when the day long search for ganja plantations yielded no results. Until 2006, many such ‘guerilla’ growers, using the rugged terrain in the dense forest around Beltangady, Charmady and Shirady Ghats to their advantage, planted thousands of ganja plants and harvested them at will without being troubled by enforcement agencies. Such ganja plantations thriving in forests became a public knowledge when the then Assistant Superintendent of police A S Rao and his team destroyed 63,000 ganja plants near Neriya forest in Beltangady taluk in January 2006. The value of the destroyed crop was then estimated at a whopping Rs 50 crore. Sources in the Anti Narcotics Cell confirmed that ganja is no longer being grown in forests in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. “It might have something to do with the Naxal menace but the exact reason remains a mystery,” sources informed on anonymity.The year-long operation against ganja growers justifies the cell’s observation. Since a year, the cell had traced and destroyed ganja cultivation (ganja grown as a mixed crop), in Belur, Chickmagalur, Shikaripura, Chitradurga and Davangere. Yet, the supply of ganja in the undivided district continues without any hiccups. The cell takes solace in the fact that the ganja reaching suppliers in Mangalore is being sourced from other states. The observation finds merit, going by the three seizures in August, including the biggest seizure of 7.5 kg in Bhatkal, which was headed to Mangalore. During investigation it was revealed that ganja had come from neighbouring Kerala and Khamman district in Andhra Pradesh.first published:September 04, 2012, 09:12 ISTlast updated:September 04, 2012, 09:12 IST
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The presence of Naxals in the Western Ghats may have kept the Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) and police on their toes but it has succeeded in scaring away ganja growers.

Weeks ago, men from the Anti-Narcotics Cell in Mangalore, acting on a tip-off, trekked deep into the forest in Charmady Ghat.

They realised that the information was a hoax when the day long search for ganja plantations yielded no results.

Until 2006, many such ‘guerilla’ growers, using the rugged terrain in the dense forest around Beltangady, Charmady and Shirady Ghats to their advantage, planted thousands of ganja plants and harvested them at will without being troubled by enforcement agencies.

Such ganja plantations thriving in forests became a public knowledge when the then Assistant Superintendent of police A S Rao and his team destroyed 63,000 ganja plants near Neriya forest in Beltangady taluk in January 2006.

The value of the destroyed crop was then estimated at a whopping Rs 50 crore.

Sources in the Anti Narcotics Cell confirmed that ganja is no longer being grown in forests in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.

“It might have something to do with the Naxal menace but the exact reason remains a mystery,” sources informed on anonymity.

The year-long operation against ganja growers justifies the cell’s observation. Since a year, the cell had traced and destroyed ganja cultivation (ganja grown as a mixed crop), in Belur, Chickmagalur, Shikaripura, Chitradurga and Davangere.

Yet, the supply of ganja in the undivided district continues without any hiccups.

The cell takes solace in the fact that the ganja reaching suppliers in Mangalore is being sourced from other states.

The observation finds merit, going by the three seizures in August, including the biggest seizure of 7.5 kg in Bhatkal, which was headed to Mangalore. During investigation it was revealed that ganja had come from neighbouring Kerala and Khamman district in Andhra Pradesh.