THENI POLICE DESTROY GANJA PLANTS

THENI APRIL 5. More than 20 persons were arrested and a majority of ganja
plants on the Varushanadu and Megaamalai hills destroyed in a raid conducted
by the Theni police today.

According to the police, a 600-strong force, comprising PEW, NIB and police
personnel, led by the District Superintendent of Police, A. Amal Raj,
started the raid this morning at Varushanadu, Yanaigajam, near the
Siruvilliputhu wildlife sanctuary, Vaaliparai, Malayali kudisai, Athi Oothu,
Kodaali Oothu, Arasaradi, Bommarasapuram, Megamalai Aruvi and interior
forests of Varushanadu hills.

The team even searched farmhouses in the remote villages such as
Singarasapuram, Vaikkalparai, Seelamuthiapuram and Valipuram. The team
secured about 20 persons so far. The raid would be conducted tomorrow also.

This was the second biggest raid conducted in the district since 1994.

The 1994 operation was stopped after two officials and two cultivators were
killed in exchange of fire.

The NIB personnel had been conducting raids often and destroying ganja
plantations on the hills. But no arrests were made by them.