BERHAMPUR: Involvement of a policeman in ganja smuggling came to the fore on Monday with the arrest of three persons, including a constable and a homeguard, in Kandhamal district. They were allegedly assisting smugglers to transport the contraband.
Those arrested are Bansidhar Barik, a constable posted at Daringibadi police station, Jitendra Pradhan, homeguard in Phulbani, Rabindra Pradhan, driver of the car in which the contraband was being transported, said IIC of Phulbani Sadar police station Trupti Nayak.
On May 26, around 30 kg of ganja was seized from a car at Jamjhari near Phulbani. The accused had managed to escape then. The mastermind is still on the run, he said.
Police said the constable and homeguard were not only helping in transportation of the contraband but had also invested in the trade. However, they had not invested in the latest seizure due to a dispute between smugglers, police added.
Last year, police suspended two assistant sub-inspectors and two constables of Phiringia police station for allegedly assisting ganja smugglers. “We will spare no one. Those involved in ganja smuggling will be booked,” said SP (Kandhamal) K V Singh.
In April, Phulbani divisional forest officer suspended a forest range officer for allowing a ganja-laden car to pass the checkgate at Tudipadu on February 24.
“We have set up an anti-narcotic cell at the district police headquarters in Phulbani to curb ganja menace. The cell will gather intelligence about ganja cultivation, persons involved in smuggling and act against the accused in time-bound manner,” the SP added.
