Illegal opium cultivation inside Similipal National Park busted; crops worth Rs 1.7 crore destroyed

Large-scale illegal opium cultivation inside the protected Similipal National Park has been unearthed following a joint operation by the police and the forest department. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, the authorities carried out a coordinated raid and destroyed illicit opium crops estimated to be worth more than Rs 1.70 crore.

Officials said the illegal cultivation was taking place deep inside the national park area, in gross violation of forest and wildlife protection laws. Based on credible information, a special joint team of police and forest officials was constituted to take immediate action.

109 Acres of Opium Crop Destroyed

The joint team conducted the operation in Gopinathpur village, which falls within the Similipal region. During the raid, opium crops spread across nearly 109 acres of forest land were destroyed. Officials said the sheer scale of cultivation pointed to organised and systematic illegal activity inside the protected forest area.

The discovery has raised serious concerns about the misuse of ecologically sensitive land for unlawful activities, posing a threat to wildlife habitats and forest conservation efforts.

Cases Registered at Jashipur Police Station

Following the destruction of the opium crops, legal proceedings have been initiated. Two separate cases have been registered at Jashipur police station in connection with the illegal cultivation. Investigations are underway to identify those involved and to ascertain how such large-scale farming was being carried out within the national park.

Zero Tolerance Towards Illegal Activities in Protected Forests

Officials said the operation reflects the administration’s zero-tolerance policy towards illegal activities inside protected forest areas. They added that surveillance within Similipal National Park will be further intensified, with regular joint operations planned to prevent unlawful cultivation, protect wildlife habitats, and ensure strict enforcement of environmental and criminal laws.