Bolangir: Four young women were arrested by the district police on charges of hemp trafficking today.
Total 20 kg of hemp with an estimated value of Rs 1 lakh were seized by the police from the possession of the arrested women in presence of the Magistrate.
Earlier the four were detained by the police from the Bolangir government bus stand this morning on suspicion of hemp trafficking. A probe was launched to find out the young women's role in the suspected illegal activity and details about their employers.
Bikashini Sahu, one of the detained young women and a resident of Tulunda of Sonepur district, told newsmen, "Under the distressing circumstances, I got into the hemp trafficking. My father having four daughters is suffering from cancer and tumour. As there is no other breadwinner in my family, I took up the job on my own."
She further stated, "I had earlier trafficked hemp thrice from Kantamala to Rourkela."
Asked about the details about the persons handing over and collecting hemp packets to them, Bikashini replied, "Those persons contact us and do not mention their names."
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"We are getting Rs 30,000 for trafficking hemp each time," she added.