NAXALS STRIVE FROM OPIUM CULTIVATION

Ever wondered how the naxals get the money to
procure latest arms and sustain their growing cadre?

The answer lies in the obscure world of illicit cultivation of
narcotic substances.

Sources in the country's anti-narcotic agencies say large scale
illegal cultivation of opium and ganja takes place in naxal-affect-ed
areas especially in States such as Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

At places where the naxals do not directly get involved in the illicit
cultivation, they charge money for providing protection to those
involved in the practice.

"Illicit cultivation does take place especially in those areas where
the local administration is not strong enough. Three main States where
it takes place as per the inputs that we receive are Bihar, Jharkhand
and West Bengal," a senior official of Narcotics Control Bureau said.

He said the other States where such cultivation takes place include
Jammu and Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Chhattisgarh besides
some States from south India.

"The naxals and certain insurgent groups in North-East thrive on the
money earned from illicit cultivation other than that earned through
extortion, kidnapping and other criminal activities," the official
said.

Of the total 1,07,825 kg of ganja or marijuana seized in the country
in 2007, the States where it was seized in heavy quantity included
Nagaland (15,489 kg), Ma-dhya Pradesh (14,815 kg), Maharashtra (12,551
kg), Chhattisgarh (7,470 kg) and Andhra Pradesh (7,059 kg).

"All these States are either facing the menace of naxalism or
insurgents in certain parts," the official pointed out.

As per Union Home Ministry reports, naxalism is slowly spreading its
wings across the country.

In the recently held Chief Ministers' conference on internal security,
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had termed naxalism as one of the three
main challenges faced by the country.

Senior officials who are involved in various anti-naxal operations too
say that narcotics are a source of income for the naxals.

"They (naxals) operate in very remote areas which usually have thick
forests. What happens inside those forests is anybody's guess. But
yes, they do charge protection money of all illegal business carried
out in their areas," a senior official said.

When asked, a senior anti-narcotics official said, "Narcotics business
is highly profitable. Since the areas where the naxals and insurgents
operate from are usually out of bounds for local police and other
security agencies, it is difficult to curtail this source of income."