December 07, 2018: Anti-ganja move by Khowai Police faced stiff challenge from aggressive villagers today. Villagers led by womenfolk who were armed with bows-arrows, acid and petrol filled bottles, sticks and daa gheraoed around 200-member strong security forces comprising Police, TSR and CRPF jawans and stopped the force from destroying ganja-plants. Angry villagers threatened to kill the security personnel if they attempt to destroy ‘even single ganja plant’.
In the skirmish, one SPO jawan – Paritosh Debbarma sustained injuries. Police remained gheraoed for almost four hours Later, with no option left, considering safety issue, Police assured villagers that ganja plants would not be destroyed. After getting assurance, villagers allowed safe passage to security personnel to return.
It may be noted here that Khowai Police had faced villagers’ resistance twice on earlier occasion while conducting ganja-plant destroying drives in recent past. Repeated resistance by villagers has put question mark on success of the Police against the ganja growers in areas under Khowai. “Such resistance is likely to jeopardize Police raids in areas where ganja is being cultivated”, top Police sources said on condition of anonymity.
Acting on a tip-off, Police attempted to raid and destroy ganja plantation at Dashgoria village located at near Khowai-Sidhai Mohanpur border area. Police sources said, under cover of dense forest, people are cultivating ganja in large area, which is arguably one of the largest ganja plantations.
As part of the anti-ganja drive, Police of Khowai, Bijalbari and Sidhai PS with TSR and CRPF reached Dashgoria village at around 8am. Seeing the security forces, local people became furious and rushed towards Police forces with lethal weapons. In the face off, Police remained gheraoed for four hours and one SPO jawan sustained injuries.
With the retreat of Police force led by several officers, the drive against ganja cultivation – at least in Khowai district – is likely to be affected and officials need to ponder over resistance by villagers, local sources commented.
