The Assam Rifles, along with other security forces, conducted a successful operation in Tripura, destroying illicit ganja cultivation valued at Rs 27 crore. This joint effort involved the Assam Rifles, Tripura Police, State Forest Department, Border Security Force, and Tripura State Rifles targeting areas in Sepahijala district, 48 km south of Agartala. Over 1.8 lakh ganja saplings were eradicated during the operation.
Such initiatives form part of the Assam Rifles’ ongoing mission to create a drug-free India. The official statement highlighted the organization’s dedication to combating the drug menace and protecting society, particularly the youth, from the harmful impact of narcotics. In a separate operation on January 28, security forces destroyed illicit ganja cultivation worth Rs 14.5 crore in the same district, eliminating around 1.45 lakh ganja saplings across more than 58 acres of land.
The destruction of nearly 30 lakh ganja plants valued at Rs 145 crore in just 10 days earlier this month underscores the scale of the issue in Tripura’s Sepahijala district. Officials noted that the dry ganja produced in the region is primarily smuggled to states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh due to higher market prices. Residents, including women, have been found cultivating ganja in remote areas for livelihood, often encroaching upon forest and government land illegally. The NDPS Act, 1985, strictly prohibits the cultivation, possession, sale, purchase, or consumption of narcotic substances, with violations carrying heavy penalties, including imprisonment of up to 20 years.
