Seraikela (Jharkhand), Feb 9 (PTI) The police on Wednesday destroyed poppy plants cultivated illegally on around 20 acres of land in Jharkhand's Seraikela-Kharswan district, an officer said.

The poppy plants were grown on both sides of the Sona river in Rugrudih panchayat within the jurisdiction of the Kuchai police station, known to be a Maoist affected area.

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District SP Anand Prakash constituted a special police team comprising personnel of the police and CRPF following complaints that large-scale poppy cultivation is on in Siyadih, Taramba and Ramdih villages.

The team destroyed the plants in those villages on Wednesday.

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The SP cautioned that the government representatives such as Mukhiya (village chief), Gram Pradhan, members of Gram Panchayat committee and Aganwadi Sevikas would be held responsible for such illegal activities.

It is mandatory for government representatives to inform the police and the administration about people promoting poppy cultivation within their jurisdiction, he said.

The police on Tuesday destroyed poppy plants cultivated over three acres of land in neighbouring West Singhbhum district.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)