Authorities to curb narcotics distribution

Original Report

JAIPUR: Apart from liquor and arms, another concern for the authorities is to check the candidates and party workers from distributing narcotics
like opium and poppy husk to voters.

There have also been cases of smuggling of opium from Rajasthan to adjoining states, including Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, after which police have intensified checks at entry and exit points of the state.

The recent incident in which Punjab police seized 1.5 kg opium from a local resident confirmed that opium was being smuggled from Rajasthan. During interrogation, the accused revealed that he brought the consignment from Rajasthan which was to be distributed at various places in the city.

In April, Jaipur police seized 15 kg of opium from a motorcycle but two drug peddlers who were carrying the contraband succeeded in giving the slip. Police sources said that the contraband packed in seven packets was carried by two drug traffickers, probably hailing from Neemach (MP). When the police tried to stop the vehicle between Vijaipur and Bassi, they sped away. The police chased them but they fled leaving behind the vehicle and the bag containing the narcotic substance, the sources said.

Sources said that there are around 17,337 opium cultivators on 4,458.20 hectare land area in Rajasthan with main centres in Kota, Chittorgarh, Jhalawar and Bhilwara. That too, when around 1,500 cultivators in the state had to abandon their crop due to unfavourable weather.

A local NGO, studying distribution of narcotics among voters, stated that it had prepared a list of the items distributed among voters during canvassing. The volunteers are requesting the candidates not to be involved in such practices so as to ensure free and fair polling. Not just candidates, they are also visiting villages and asked the residents not to vote for a candidate using unfair means to woo voters.

Dhani Ram, a villager from Dausa, said that he had gone to his relatives in Chittorgarh where supporters of a local candidate offered opium to the villagers, however, he cited strengthening of bond as the reason behind the practice.

Speaking about the smuggling of opium during elections, DIG (crime) GC Gupta said that in cities, it was imported liquor and in villages it was country-made or poor brands. But in most of the interior villages, candidates and their supporters offer opium to garner support. He also said that police teams have been alerted after detecting rise in cases of opium smuggling, the police are keeping a vigil even in small towns and villages to ensure that the practice is checked.

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