Five security forces injured in villagers attack after cops destroyed 60,000 cannabis plants

In continuing crackdown on drugs across Tripura and after conducting a massive destruction of 60,000 Cannabis plants at Naturbazar area of Sidhai Mohanpur under West Tripura district on Thursday, when a joint team of security personnel were returning, two group of villagers allegedly cannabis growers attacked on police team and ransacked their five vehicles and injured five security personnel.

Sources said that a big team of police forces including CRPF and TSR jawans led by Additional SP (West) Tripura conducted their anti-Ganja drives in vast areas of Natunbazar village under Sidhai police station and during the drive, security forces have destroyed about 60,000 cannabis plants.

When the security forces were returning to their base, a large number of villagers in two groups started stone pelting indiscriminately targeting security forces. Irate villagers through their stone pelting have also ransacked five police vehicles and have also injured five security personnel including CRPF and TSR jawans.

SDPO(Mohanpur) Bijoy Sen said that after mild force to disperse the villagers , villagers escaped from the spot and all injured personnel were shifted to hospital and after primary treatment, all injured persons were released from the hospital.

He said that police have registered a suo-Motu FIR and a probe has started to identify the attackers.

Officials said the team had parked their vehicles at some distance from the cannabis farm in Natunbazar village. When they were returning after destroying the plants, two groups of people attacked them with stones.

While, local villagers alleged that police forces had attacked innocent villagers and they thrashed villagers, who are not associated with cannabis plantation and its trade.

SDPO, Bijoy Sen ruled out the allegation made by villagers and claimed that they only resorted mild force to disperse attackers. So far, none of the attackers were arrested and police have also deployed forces in adjacent areas of that village to defuse tension.