Chatra (Jharkhand), May 25 (IANS). Police in Jharkhand’s Chatra district have seized opium, doda and poppy seeds worth more than Rs 1 crore in two separate operations against drug smugglers and illegal drug gangs. Three inter-state smugglers, including the alleged leader of the gang, were arrested, while five others managed to escape during the raid. Chatra Superintendent of Police, addressing a press conference at the collector’s office Animesh Naithani shared details of both the operations and said that the total value of the seized narcotics is approximately Rs 1.01 crore.
In the first operation, the police received specific information about illegal trade of banned opium near Bajrahi Maidan on Bagra-Chatra Road. After verification, a special raid team was formed under the leadership of Sub Divisional Police Officer, Simaria Nagar Goje, Shubham Bhau Saheb. As soon as the police team reached the spot, the smugglers tried to escape. Armed personnel chased them and succeeded in arresting two accused, identified as Jeevlal Ganjhu, resident of Lutidih, Simaria, and Mohammad Faizan Malik, resident of Ichak Kala.
SP said that Ganjhu is considered to be the leader of the interstate smuggling network. According to the investigation, he used to procure opium locally and supplied it to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other states through Malik. Police recovered a TVS Luna, 7 kg 196 gm opium hidden in its storage compartment and two mobile phones. After a raid at Kiganjhu’s residence, 78.4 kg doda hidden in three sacks was recovered. Police arrested two other accused Haider Khan alias Diwan and Dilawar Khan. Raids are continuing. Simaria Circle Officer, SHO Surya Pratap Singh and NDPS police station in-charge Mohammad Shami Ansari were involved in this operation.
–-IANS
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