Opium worth Rs 8 cr cultivated in maize field in Chhattisgarh's Durg; BJP leader, 2 others held
Durg (PTI): A BJP Kisan Morcha leader and two others were arrested on Saturday for allegedly cultivating opium worth Rs 8 crore in a maize field in Chhattisgarh's Durg district, a police official said.
Durg Superintendent of Police Vijay Agrawal identified the accused as Vinayak Tamrakar, the state coordinator of the Rice Mill Processing Project of the BJP Kisan Morcha here, as well as Vikas Bishnoi (27) and Manish Thakur (45).
The illegal cultivation was detected on farmland located between Samoda, Jhenjhari and Sirsa villages under the jurisdiction of Pulgaon police station and the Jeora-Sirsa police outpost, he said.
An inspection this morning revealed opium plants interspersed with maize crops, apparently grown to conceal the illegal plantation spread over 5.62 acres in the middle of a 7-acre plot, police said.
Officials added the land is owned by Madhumati Tamrakar and Pritibala Tamrakar, while the agricultural work is managed by Vinayak Tamrakar.
Durg Additional Tehsildar Kshama Yadav stated that an investigation is underway to ascertain how the opium crop was cultivated on the farm.
Additional Superintendent of Police Manishanker Chandra said a case has been registered under the NDPS Act.
A preliminary investigation has shown that individuals from outside the state were brought in for opium cultivation, police said.
Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh BJP president Kiran Singh Deo said Vinayak Tamrakar had been suspended with immediate effect for tarnishing the party's image.
Former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel alleged that Vinayak Tamrakar was cultivating opium on nearly 10 acres of land in Samoda village.
The former chief minister alleged Tamrakar is an influential person who interacts with senior officials and ministers.
Tamrakar had earlier denied the allegations and claimed the case was politically motivated.
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PM to reach Sikkim on Monday to attend 50 years of statehood ceremony, launch Rs 4,000 cr projects
Gangtok (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to reach Sikkim on Monday for a two-day tour, during which he will hold a roadshow, attend the closing ceremony of 50 years of statehood and launch projects worth Rs 4,000 crore, officials said.
Elaborate security arrangements have been put in place in the state capital and surrounding areas in view of Modi's visit, they said.
According to the itinerary of his visit, Modi will arrive in Gangtok around 3 pm and will hold a roadshow to Lok Bhawan here soon after landing at Libing helipad.
The Prime Minister will visit the Orchidarium in Gangtok the next day. To showcase the ecological and floral heritage of the state, a "Swarnajayanti Maitri Manjari Park" has been developed as a world-class Orchid Experience Centre on the golden jubilee of Sikkim's statehood.
He will launch multiple development projects worth over Rs 4,000 crore across the state while participating in the closing ceremony of Sikkim's 50th year of statehood at Paljor Stadium.
The projects span a wide range of sectors, including infrastructure, connectivity, healthcare, education, power, urban development, environment, tourism and agriculture, the officials said.
The Prime Minister will also address the gathering on the occasion, the officials said.
Modi had been scheduled to be present at the opening ceremony of the year-long celebrations of 50 years of Sikkim's statehood at Paljor Stadium last year, but he could not reach the venue due to inclement weather. He, however, addressed the gathering through video conferencing from Bagdogra in neighbouring West Bengal.
