50 forest officials narrowly escape landmine blast in Boudh

The forest department, which has fastened its belt to curve ganja cultivation, is continuously tracking down illegal farming by miscreants.

On Monday, a landmine blast has been reported from Lakadpaju forest, Boudh district.

As reported, a team of forest officials went into Lakadpaju forest to seize and destroy ganja cultivation which was being done inside deep forest. During the operation, suddenly a landmine blasted which was supposedly set up by ganja mafias to keep the investigating team off-limit.

Nearly, 50 forest officials made a narrow escape with zero causality from the life-claiming explosion.

Meanwhile, a joint team of forest and excise department officials destroyed ganja worth whopping Rs 8 crore in Mohana, Gajapathi district.

The illegal farming was being done on a patch of 44 acres of isolated land, which was completely destroyed by the officials. The officials burnt down the illegal crops to completely reduce any chances of recovery or further uses.

On multiple occasions in the past, illegal cultivation of ganja has been detected and destroyed by the officials.