In a major move under the ongoing #NashaMuktOdisha Abhijan, Inspector General of Police (STF) Himanshu Lal, IPS, chaired a high-level video conference with top police officials to review and intensify anti-narcotics operations across six key hotspot districts: Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Kandhamala, and Boudh.
The strategic meeting was attended by DIG STF Dr KV Singh, IPS, NCB Zonal Officer (Bhubaneswar) Shri Kunal Kumar, alongside IG Berhampur and DIG Koraput. Officials conducted a thorough discussion aimed at minimising illegal cannabis cultivation through a comprehensive four-pronged strategy:
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Massive Enforcement & Legal Action: Strict measures against drug syndicates, detailed financial investigations, property freezing, and invoking the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in NDPS Act (PIT-NDPS) against habitual offenders.
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Community Awareness: Continuous public campaigns across designated hotspot areas to deter participation in illicit farming.
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Tech-Driven Surveillance: Deploying drones, satellite imagery, and intensified ground patrols for real-time monitoring of vulnerable forest pockets.
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Alternative Livelihoods: Collaborating with inter-departmental stakeholders to provide sustainable socio-economic alternatives for local communities.
Specific targets and timelines were assigned to District Superintendents of Police, with regular monthly review meetings scheduled to track progress and ensure strict implementation.
