Opium Cultivation and Anti-Encroachment Drive Shake Chhattisgarh Village

In a significant move, authorities in Chhattisgarh's Durg district executed an anti-encroachment drive on Tuesday, demolishing an illegally constructed shop in Samoda village. The shop belonged to the brother of Vijay Tamrakar, a suspended BJP leader, who has been implicated in opium cultivation.

Vijay Tamrakar, a notable figure in the BJP Kisan Morcha, was apprehended alongside two others on March 7 after authorities discovered opium valued at Rs 8 crore cultivated within a maize field. The shop, operated by his brother Brijesh Tamrakar, was situated on 32 decimals of government land, according to Additional Tehsildar Kshama Yadav.

A joint team of revenue and police departments led the operation, dismantling the illegal structure amidst heavy police presence. The action followed a local court's eviction order and numerous complaints from residents. As villagers gathered to witness the event, officials emphasized the district's ongoing commitment to countering illegal encroachments.