GAYA: Altogether three persons including two serving army men were arrested on the charge of opium smuggling from the Barachatti police station area of the district. 7 kg of opium was recovered from their possession. City SP Rakesh Kumar confirmed the arrests.
The army personnel arrested on the opium smuggling charge have been identified as Krishna Ram and Gopi Lal. Hailing from Rajasthan, the duo are currently posted in Ranchi. Whereas Krishna Ram is deputed at the Military Hospital, Namkumbh Ranchi, Gopi Lal is deputed with a Ranchi based artillery unit. The duo has been sent to jail. The Command offices of the army personnel have also been informed. The opium supplier too has been arrested. The bike on which the army personnel were carrying the contraband item has been seized.
Barachatti, it may be recalled has acquired notoriety for opium farming and the beneficiaries include the red rebels for whom opium is a cash crop. According to the City SP, at least 22 cases have been registered in connection with opium farming in the Barachatti police station area in the current year itself. A total of 18 arrests have been made in connection with the 22 FIRs registered against opium farmers and their conduits. The cops have destroyed standing opium crops valued at about Rs 12 crores, this year, said Rakesh Kumar, the City SP.
