In a major bust, six individuals were arrested for secretly cultivating cannabis as an intercrop in their agricultural fields in Nirmal, Telangana. The operation, led by Superintendent of Police (SP) Dr. Janaki Sharmila, took place in the remote Alampalli village and surrounding areas in Kaddampeddur mandal on Monday, following a tip-off. The raid resulted in the seizure of cannabis plants worth approximately Rs. 70 lakh.
Seizure and Arrests
The six individuals apprehended in connection with the illegal cannabis cultivation were identified as Takada Indal, Kasavath Sajanlal, Gothi Ravinder, Kachakand Santosh, Bamane Narender, and Peliya Prathap Singh, all from Mangalsingh Thanda in Kaddampeddur mandal. These individuals were caught cultivating ganja in their own farms, as well as on rented lands in neighboring villages, where they had been secretly growing cannabis alongside pigeon pea crops.
The authorities seized significant quantities of cannabis during the operation. Indal, for example, was found cultivating 83 cannabis plants across two farms near Babunaik Thanda, with an estimated weight of 48.64 kilograms and a value of Rs. 41.50 lakh. The remaining accused were cultivating plants with a total weight of about 12 kilograms, valued at Rs. 31.36 lakh.
Confession and Motivation
During questioning, the suspects admitted to their involvement in cultivating ganja to make a quick profit. They confessed that they had been growing cannabis on their fields for an extended period, taking advantage of the relatively low risk of detection when cultivating it among other crops.
The Operation
Dr. Sharmila led the team to the remote village on a motorbike, along with a well-coordinated group of police officers, including Nirmal DSP Prabhakar, Khanapur Inspector Saidarao, and Kaddampeddur Sub-Inspector Krishnasagar. The team was supported by a sniffer dog squad and other staff from the Central Crime Station.
The operation was part of ongoing efforts by law enforcement in Telangana to curb illegal cannabis cultivation, which has been a growing concern in rural areas.
