Sonamura, Nov 20 (TIWN): In order to curb the menace of rampant cannabis (Ganza) cultivations across the Sonamura Sub-Division, a succession of raids is being carried out jointly by the Sonamura Sub-Divisional Administration, BSF and Police Authorities.

In another such successful raid carried out today under the leadership of the SDM Sonamura-Subhasis Das, a record 42,000 ganja plants that were on the verge of maturity were destroyed today in the interior locales of Tulatuli and Manaipathar under Kathalia RD Block.

The plantations were spread over a vast area of about 34 acres, and were reportedly raised by some outsiders having considerable influence and monetary clout. Considering the average cannabis-yield from each plant to be 500 gm, the market value of the plants destroyed today has been worked out to be 10 crore 5 lakh, the highest monetary worth of any plantations destroyed in a single day till date.

During the raid, the SDM Sonamura was ably assisted by Anil Ranwa, Coy Commander of Dhanpur BSF BOP under 29 Battalion BSF, and Gopal Das, Senior Excise Inspector of Sonamura. The raid-party that destroyed the huge plantations was composed of 40 personnel handpicked from the Sub-Divisional Administration and BSF. The raid operation that continued from 12:30 pm till 4:30 pm has dealt a severely jolt the might of unscrupulous elements that are known to invest considerable money not only for raising such illegal plantations in several pockets in Sonamura Sub-Division, but also to shield them.

The SDM Sonamura has affirmed that such operations will continue unrelentingly till the plantations raised across the sub division are destroyed to a satisfactory extent.