The team, led by ASP Digambar Pradhan, will submit report by April end.
Worried over the discovery of illicit poppy cultivation in more than 70 acres in five districts of Maharashtra since the last week of February, the home department has now formed a special investigation team (SIT) to probe all cases of illicit poppy cultivation in the state.
Orders pertaining to formation of the SIT under the leadership of additional superintendent of police (ASP), Digambar Pradhan, were issued two days ago.
Pradhan, who played a vital role in the discovery of poppy cultivation in 10 acres in seven villages in Shirala taluka of Sangli district, confirmed his appointment as in charge of SIT.
Pradhan will be assisted by a team of deputy superintendent of police and five police inspectors. Pradhan told DNA that SIT has to carry out the investigation within one-and-a-half month. “We have to submit our report by the end of April,’’ he said.
The SIT will investigate all cases of illicit poppy cultivation which have come to light in Beed, Sangli, Satara, Pune and Kolhapur districts. It has been asked to carry out a detailed probe into the illicit poppy cultivation.
In Sangli, so far, 21 including 17 farmers and four traders, have been arrested and 7 tonnes of poppy have been seized. Three farmers have been arrested from Kolhapur and Satara districts and 103 and 88 kg poppy has been confiscated, respectively.
In Pune district, two farmers were arrested after 100 kg poppy was seized. While in Beed district, 36 farmers and four traders have been arrested with seizure of 44 tonnes of poppy.
Minister of state for home, Satej Patil, told DNA that the SIT has been formed to investigate all cases related to poppy cultivation in the state. “We want to go to the root of poppy cultivation. Hence, the SIT has been formed,’’ Patil said.
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