Massive ganja farm destroyed in Kerala's Attappady forest
Palakkad (PTI): The Kerala police on Wednesday said they have destroyed what is believed to be the state’s largest illegal cannabis plantation, hidden deep inside a forest in the Attappady region of this north Kerala district.
Officers from the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), the district anti-narcotics unit and Pudur Police joined forces for the operation, trekking nearly five hours through dense forest to reach the site at the foothills of Sathyakkallumala, they said.
The teams found around 10,000 cannabis plants, each about three months old, spread across roughly 60 cents of land.
The plants were uprooted and destroyed on the spot.
Police said the raid followed information received by Kerala ATS DIG Putta Vimaladitya IPS about large-scale commercial ganja cultivation in the tribal belt of Attappady.
He alerted Palakkad district police chief Ajith Kumar IPS, who coordinated the operation.
"This was one of the biggest ganja cultivation raids ever conducted by Kerala Police," an officer said, adding that an investigation is underway to trace those behind the plantation and their possible links to illegal trade networks.
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Udhayanidhi accuses BJP of not releasing funds for TN
Gobichettipalayam (PTI): Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Saturday charged the BJP government at the Centre with not releasing funds to the state and accused it of "snatching" TN's rights.
Addressing a poll rally at Gobichettipalayam in the western Erode district, the DMK youth wing chief claimed the Centre has not released funds to the tune of Rs 3,000 crore for education.
"They (union government) have snatched all our rights," he charged.
With regard to the Centre's proposal for delimitation, he said chief minister M K Stalin was the first person in the country to raise the voice against the union government's move. He claimed that it was a "huge victory" for the INDIA alliance, as the bill was defeated for lack of majority after the opposition voted against it in the Lok Sabha.
Listing out various welfare measures implemented by the DMK government, he said the existing "Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai" (monthly financial assistance for women) will be doubled to Rs 2,000 if DMK was voted to power again.
The deputy chief minister charged that the BJP and AIADMK have tried to stall it by moving the court. "At present more than 1.3 crore women have benefited from the scheme", he said.
"Similarly, the breakfast scheme for the government school students will be extended till Class VIII", he said adding "more than 35 lakh college students across the state will be getting free laptops once the DMK government is formed".
Udhayanidhi also pointed out at the "Illatharasi" poll promise, providing Rs 8,000 worth of coupons to non-income tax paying women where they could buy or replace any household appliances of their choice.
Elections to 234 Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu will be held on April 23 and the results declared on May 4 following counting of polled votes.
