2nd phase polls: Over Rs 6 lakh cash, contraband item seized in Odisha

Padampur/Baripada: Ahead of second phase polls in Odisha on April 18, joint squad of police and election flying squad seized huge amount of cough syrup, ganja and cash during raids at different places in the State.

Acting on a tip off, the cops seized 230 bottles of cough syrup, over seven kg of ganja (dry cannabis) and Rs 3.33 lakh cash after a raid at Paikamal in Bargarh. Though no arrests have been made in connection with this, further investigation is on.

Similarly, a huge cache of cough syrup and sedatives were also seized after a raid in Padampur area.

“From Paikamal, we seized a large amount of corex syrup, ganja and Rs 3.33 lakh cash. Apart from this, cough syrup and sleeping pills were seized in Padampur and we have detained Mukesh Agarwal and Lalita Rao for further questioning,” said Pradeep Kumar Sahu, Padampur SDPO.

Meanwhile in another incident, the election flying squad seized Rs 2.90 lakh from two vehicles during checking at Bonda chhak under Chandua Police limits and Gunjasahi under Sadar Police limits in Baripada.

The squad is further questioning two drivers to elicit more information about the source of the cash.