In a significant crackdown on the growing drug menace in Odisha’s Kandhamal district, Phulbani Town Police raided a suspected drug peddling spot and seized 22 kg of ganja along with 7.75 grams of brown sugar.
Eleven people were arrested, and two motorcycles and seven mobile phones were also confiscated during the operation.
According to Kandhamal Superintendent of Police Ramendra Prasad, the total market value of the seized narcotics is approximately ₹3 lakh. The raid was conducted near Pitabali Masani in Phulbani Sahi following intelligence inputs about an active drug network operating in the area.
The arrested individuals, mostly local youths, include: Ayesh Mahapatra (19), Debashish Patra (31), Sridhar Mohanty (47), Simanchal Mahanti (30), Neelamani Barik (45), Shiba Preet Patnaik (28) from Phulbani Sahi; Balakrishna Malik (30) from Tikabali; Balunkeshwar (20) from Tikabali Kadapadar; Jagat Kahar (25) and Abakhit Digal (25) from Gochhapada area; and Mona Ranjan Sabat (50) from Phulbani Arbind Nagar. All have been forwarded to the court.
SP Ramendra Prasad highlighted the alarming rise in brown sugar cases in the district, which is increasingly luring educated youths and students toward addiction and crime. Police suspect involvement of an external drug mafia that is using local contacts to expand its network in the region.
This swift action comes shortly after SP Ramendra Prasad took charge, reflecting his strong commitment to restoring law and order in Kandhamal. The operation, led by Town Police Station team including SI Ritanjali Sahu and Monaranjan Bhoi, has been termed a major success by local authorities.
