106 kg ganja seized in Puttur; two arrested
Puttur: Puttur Rural Police have arrested two persons and seized 106 kg of ganja that was being transported in two vehicles, police said.
The accused have been identified as Rafiq P. (37) and Abdul Sadiq (37), both residents of Charmadi village in Belthangady taluk.
Based on specific information about ganja being transported in a car and a goods vehicle, police conducted vehicle checks at Sajankadi in Paduvannuru village on the evening of January 19. During the inspection, police found ganja leaves, flowers and seeds weighing about 100 grams in a plastic cover inside the car driven by Rafiq.
On inspecting the goods vehicle driven by Sadiq, police recovered 73 bundles of ganja weighing a total of 106 kg and 60 grams. The total value of the seized contraband is estimated at ₹53.03 lakh, police said.
During questioning, the accused allegedly admitted that the ganja was being transported for sale in Kerala, Mangaluru and other parts of Dakshina Kannada district. Police seized both vehicles used for transportation and two mobile phones from the accused.
A case has been registered at Puttur Rural Police Station under Sections 8(c) (prohibits the production) and 20(b)(ii)(C) (commercial quantity) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Further investigation is under way.
The operation was carried out by a team led by Police Sub-Inspector Gunapala J., along with staff members Harish, Harshit, Prashanth, Adrama, Prashanth Rai, Praveen Rai, Bhavit Rai, Nagaraj, Satish, Ramesh, Subramani and Vinod.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Three new cubs born to Cheetah Gamini in MP's Kuno Park; India's count rises to 38
Sheopur (MP) (PTI): Cheetah 'Gamini' has given birth to three cubs at the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, taking the number of these big cats in India to 38, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Wednesday.
Describing it as a "roaring" success of the government's ambitious Cheetah re-introduction programme, Yadav said it is a powerful symbol of the country’s determined and historic conservation effort.
Gamini was translocated to India from South Africa as part of the ambitious project launched in September 2022 to revive the population of the world's fastest land animal in India, which had gone extinct decades ago.
ALSO READ: Rs 640 crore cyber fraud: SC refuses anticipatory bail to CA in ED case
Yadav, in a post on X, said, “Kuno welcomes three new cubs - A roaring new chapter at Kuno on the occasion of completion of 3 years of arrival of cheetahs from South Africa. Celebrations echo through Kuno National Park as Gamini, the South African cheetah and second-time mother, has brought 3 new cubs into the world."
This joyful arrival marks the ninth successful cheetah litter on Indian soil and takes the number of surviving Indian-born cubs to 27, he said.
With these newest additions, India's total cheetah population has now reached 38 - a powerful symbol of the country's determined and historic conservation effort, Yadav highlighted.
Each birth strengthens the foundation of Project Cheetah and reflects the passion, perseverance, and round-the-clock dedication of the field staff and veterinary teams who have nurtured this dream into reality, he said.
"A moment of pride for Kuno, and for India—may Gamini and her three little sprinters grow strong and carry the nation’s cheetah revival story forward with speed and grace," the minister added.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav noted that Madhya Pradesh is a powerful centre for cheetah reintroduction.
This is a historic achievement for the entire country in the direction of wildlife conservation, biodiversity, and environmental balance, the CM said in a post on X.
It is a matter of immense joy that under Project Cheetah, the female cheetah ‘Gamini’ who arrived from South Africa has given birth to three cubs, he said.
"With the completion of three years of cheetahs’ arrival at Kuno National Park in Sheopur district, this is the 9th successful birth (of a litter). The total number of cheetahs in India has now increased to 38," Yadav added.
Earlier this month, cheetah Aasha, translocated to India from Namibia, gave birth to five cubs in KNP.
