In a significant move to combat narcotics production at its source, Jharkhand's Director General of Police (DGP) Tadasha Mishra on Thursday issued strict directives to the Superintendents of Police (SPs) of seven key districts. The DGP ordered them to escalate police action against individuals involved in the illegal cultivation of poppy.
High-Level Review Meeting on Poppy Menace
The DGP conducted a detailed review of the status of poppy cultivation with the top police officers of Ranchi, Chatra, Palamu, West Singhbhum, Hazaribag, Latehar, and Saraikela-Kharsawan and Khunti districts. The meeting, held on Thursday, focused on formulating a multi-pronged strategy to eradicate the illegal crop.
The core agenda included analyzing the data for poppy crop destruction targeted for 2025, examining the status of cases already registered in connection with the razing of such crops, and identifying the major smugglers and kingpins behind the cultivation networks. The discussion also covered ongoing awareness drives and the crucial promotion of alternative crops for farmers.
DGP's Directives: Property Seizure and Inter-Agency Coordination
DGP Tadasha Mishra instructed the SPs to go beyond just crop destruction. She asked them to gather detailed information about the illegal properties amassed by the accused persons and kingpins in cases registered under the stringent Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The police were directed to take all desirable legal action against such properties to cripple the financial backbone of the smuggling networks.
Emphasizing the need for a unified approach, Mishra stated, "The police must coordinate with the concerned agencies including revenue, agriculture and forest for locating government, raiyyat (tenant), and forest land engaged in poppy cultivation and act against those involved." This highlights the plan to tackle cultivation across all land types through inter-departmental synergy.
Leveraging Intelligence and Grassroots Networks
The police chief provided clear operational guidelines. She mandated that destruction drives must be carried out based on specific intelligence provided by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), ensuring targeted and effective operations.
Furthermore, to improve detection, DGP Mishra stressed the importance of establishing strong contacts at the village level. She advised the SPs to engage with local village heads, including mankis, mundas, mukhiyas, and women committee members, to gather ground-level information about areas where poppy cultivation is currently underway. This community-centric approach aims to create a robust local intelligence network.
The comprehensive review and the specific directives signal a renewed and intensified crackdown on the illicit poppy trade in Jharkhand, targeting both the fields and the financial assets of those controlling this illegal trade.
