Pune: Cultivation of opium poppies in wheat fields; Police seize 1,374 plants, two arrested

Pune city police have arrested two farmers for allegedly growing the banned opium poppies in their farms in the Holkarwadi area, officials said Thursday. The officers seized 1,374 opium plants weighing 116 kilograms, estimated at Rs 11.6 lakh, the police said in a statement.

The police have identified the accused as Rajaram Damodar Holkar, 50, and Balu Kisan Katke, 50, both residents of Holkarwadi in Haveli taluka of Pune district.

The farmers allegedly cultivated the narcotic substance and sold it to drug peddlers to earn more money, said an officer.

According to the police, a team headed by senior inspector Dattatraya Chavan of Lonikalbhor station discovered opium poppy plants while raiding two wheat farmlands on March 1.

The Lonikalbhor police station has launched an FIR against the farmers under sections of the Narcotics, Drugs, and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Police sub-inspector Amit Gore is investigating the case.