Poppy crops destroyed in 2500 acres in Khunti

Poppy crops have been destroyed in 2500 acres in Khunti district to snap money supply to insurgent groups who thrive on illegal opium trade, the police said today.

The poppy crop, destroyed in the last two years, was valued at Rs 25 crore, Superintendent of Police, Ashwini Kumar Sinha said.

Sinha said efforts were on to identify the land owners of the poppy crop to take legal action against them.

Sinha said CPI (Maoists) and Peoples Liberation Front of India (PLFI) were involved in illegal cultivation of poppy in the district, which was considered as the second largest producer of poppy after the extremist-hit Chatra district of the state.

The ultras lured innocent villagers to cultivate poppy and assured them of protection, he said.

"We are trying to convince villagers through community policing, organising sports and workshops that cultivation of poppy was illegal and advised them to keep themselves away," he said.