Women resist move to burn crop by special team

Tension prevailed in the Salimerangi in Dheeram panchayat of G. Madugula mandal in the Visakha Agency on Saturday when a special team combining Excise and police destroyed ganja crop near the village.

About 40 Excise and 40 police and CRPF personnel faced stiff resistance from women of the village, as they tried to burn the crop.

Seeing the men in khaki descending on their village, the men folk fled the scene and the officials had to bear the wrath of the women, who claimed that the crop was their only livelihood.

“We had to convince them about the ill-effects of growing the crop, for over two hours, and only then they relented,” said Excise Superintendent of Anakapalle D.S.R.C. Murthy.

The officials were finally successful in destroying about 1.5 lakh ganja plants that were being grown in 26 acres in the village.

The destroyed crop is valued to be about Rs. 2 crore. The official had also destroyed about 500 kg of harvested crop that was kept for drying in the open fields.

The operation was coordinated by the Deputy Commissioner of Prohibition and Excise M. Satyanarayana and Assistant Superintendent of Police A. Babujee.

The interior parts of Visakha Agency gained notoriety for ganja cultivation and is heading the list in the country.

This was the first destruction of crops by the excise and police this year and many more raids would follow, Mr. Satyanarayana said.

Women resist move to burn crop by special team, saying it is their only livelihood