Dhakuakho administration destroys poppy plantation

LAKHIMPUR, April 7: The subdivisiol administration of Dhakuakho in Lakhimpur district on Friday destroyed a large plantation of poppy in an outreach area of the subdivision. It was burnt into ashes by a team of Ghilamora Police Station in the presence of Lakhimpur ASP Shantanu Kumar Dutta, Executive Magistrate of Dhakuakho Kakumoni Saikia and NDPS officer Anjani Kumar.

Taking the advantage of the ignorance of the common people of the area, an anti-social racket led by Babu Mandal and Biplav Biswas from West Bengal was potent enough to plant the poppy trees in association with a few persons of Rupahi Gaon under the Ghilamora Police Station. They took a plot of three bighas land for the purpose from one Basanta Saikia of Bebejia Majgaon.

ren Sonowal, the OC of Ghilamora PS, brought the plantation into light and confirmed it as poppy, the opium obtaining plant which is locally known as ‘Aphu’ or ‘Aphing’.

On the other hand Ghilamora Police under Dhakuakho subdivision of Lakhimpur district arrested two persons who were involved in poppy plantation in a plot of four bighas land at Bogoriguri Chapori of Bebejia Majgaon. They were arrested from Rupahi Goan under Ghilamora Police Station on Friday night. The arrested persons have been identified as Chitta Ranjan Mandal and Madhu Mangal Mandal of West Bengal. However, the main culprit of this racket, Biplav Biswas remains untraced. The duo admitted that Biplav Biswas had been playing the main role in the plantation of the forbidden plant in the outreach area of the subdivision taking the advantage of the ignorance of the local people. They also admitted that there was a black market of poppy juice and drugs related materials in West Bengal covering Cooch Bihar. Ghilamora Police have registered a case under NDPS Act against the racket and launched a massive probe into the issue.