Hazaribag, Jan. 28 -- In a crackdown on illegal opium cultivation, police and forest department officials carried out a joint operation in the Chauparan area of Hazaribag district, destroying opium crops spread over about 50 acres in Anjan village.
Acting on a tip-off received on Wednesday, the joint team conducted a drone survey to identify opium cultivation in remote and hilly areas of the village. The illegal crop was identified and completely destroyed on the spot. During the operation, eight delivery pipes used for irrigation were recovered and destroyed.
Administrative sources said the drone survey indicates that illegal opium cultivation is spread over nearly 200 acres in the Anjan area. While 50 acres have been cleared so far, the...