Thirteen Arrested in Gajapati for Assaulting Police During Ganja Crackdown
In a significant incident in Gajapati district, thirteen people were arrested on Thursday for allegedly assaulting police personnel near Mahapadar and Gundripanka villages. The attack occurred the previous evening when ten officers from Adava police station were conducting patrolling in two vehicles as part of a crackdown on ganja trafficking.
Violent Confrontation with Villagers
According to police reports, a group of villagers suddenly gathered and detained the police personnel for over two hours. The villagers allegedly started abusing and assaulting the officers, threatening them during the confrontation. Rakesh Kumar Sahoo, the sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) of R Udayagiri, stated that additional forces from Adava police station rushed to the spot to rescue the policemen.
Police Raids and Arrests
Early on Thursday, police conducted raids in the villages and arrested thirteen men. The SDPO mentioned that searches were also carried out in other villages to apprehend those involved in the attack. The villages appeared deserted as most men fled fearing police action. Those who remained suggested that the attackers might have links to ganja smugglers.
Background on Ganja Seizures
Police suspect the villagers attacked them out of fear of arrest for storing contraband. This incident follows a recent raid on Sunday, where police seized approximately 1,054 kg of ganja worth Rs 1 crore from a forest area near Gundripanka. The drug traffickers had hidden the ganja in caves near the villages.
The SDPO highlighted that a drive has been launched to unearth ganja stored in various locations. In the last ten days, police have recovered more than 5 quintals of ganja, valued over Rs 5 crore, from different areas within the limits of Adava and R Udayagiri police stations.
This crackdown underscores ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking in the region, with police facing resistance from local communities potentially involved in illicit activities.
