Rural cops arrest 163 in 160 marijuana cases in 42 days, bust micro level drug rackets

Nagpur: Around 160 cases were registered related to possession, ferrying, and consumption of marijuana in the last 42 days by the Nagpur rural police, and 163 accused arrested for their involvement in the narco trade. The action was taken to uproot micro-level modules of marijuana at Kanhan, Ramtek, Saoner, Khaparkheda, and Parseoni.

The action, aiming to bust micro-level operations of peddlers supplying marijuana, was part of the ongoing 100-day action agenda set up as a mission for efficient action by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. SP Rural Harrsh Poddar formed taluka-level task forces at the police stations under the supervision of sub-divisional police officers (SDPO). The strategy was framed following Fadnavis's diktat to bust narco modules.

Poddar said the aim was to operate at the grass roots level and bust the micro modules which supply narcotics directly to the purchaser. "We aimed at targeting the peddlers supplying to the junkies on the roads, through the pan kiosks and shady outlets of tea and roadside vendors, who sell marijuana in ‘puris' (small packs). Our objective was to break the chain at the consumer level even when it meant the seizure of small quantities of the drug," said the SP, adding the aim was to paralyse the supply chain and destroy the ecosystem of the receivers and peddlers.

Poddar said that although only 13kg marijuana worth Rs2 lakh was seized, several micro-modules dealing in marijuana were busted across the district. "Some of the key accused were grilled intensely to unearth the backward linkages, trying to reach the secondary sources. These efforts have now stretched the probe to Pandhurna in Madhya Pradesh and other talukas too," said Poddar, adding every police station in Nagpur Rural and their beat patrolling, bike-borne teams (marshals) have been urged to crack down upon the receiver and peddlers' nexus at the grass roots level. "We have set targets for the personnel. The work would be reviewed by the SDPO," said Poddar, adding he is monitoring the crackdown.