Pubdate: Mon, 25 Feb 2008
Source: DNA (India)
Copyright: 2008 Diligent Media Corporation Ltd
Contact:  http://www.dnaindia.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4442
Author: Sanjay Singh

BIHAR'S NAXAL-AFFECTED VILLAGES GROW POPPY

PATNA: The rampant cultivation of opium (poppy seeds) in some 
villages in naxal-affected Gaya district and near the Indo-Bangladesh 
border in Kishanganj district of Bihar has baffled the state 
administration.  Interestingly, residents of Simalbari village under 
Kishanganj district were equally surprised to know that the new crop 
being grown in their village was opium and its cultivation was an 
offense liable for prosecution under the narcotic drugs and 
psychotropic substances (NDPS) act.

According to reports reaching the state police headquarters here, the 
district magistrate and SP of Gaya raided three naxal-affected 
villages in Mohanpur block on a tip-off that opium was being grown by 
some farmers there. The officials found that opium was illegally 
grown in these villages, although on a small scale. They estimated 
the total area under illegal cultivation to be around 1.5 acres. The 
identity of the actual land owners or those growing the illegal crop 
could not be ascertained as all the male members had absconded from 
the villages after seeing the posse of armed police forces.

DM Jitendra Srivastava asked revenue officials to find out who the 
actual owners of the land were. Meanwhile, the police have registered 
a case under the NDPS act.  The DM has also sought people's 
co-operation in detecting opium cultivation in other parts of the 
district and has promised to keep the identity of informers 
confidential and also reward them suitably.

It is believed that the drug was being cultivated under the patronage 
of naxals as the area is considered to be their stronghold. The 
Kishanganj police also unearthed illegal cultivation of opium on a 
four-acre plot at Simalbari village. The actual owners of the land 
confessed before that they had given their land on lease to a person 
called Mohammed.

Ziaul Haque and Mohd Nazmul are residents of another village along 
the Indo-Bangladesh border. A tract of land was leased out to them 
for Rs1,700 through one of their relatives. The land owners and 
villagers were stunned to learn the crop, which planters said was a 
new variety of mustard from Assam, was actually opium.  When police 
raided the village of the planters they were found absconding. A case 
was registered against them. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake