Kohima, April 21 (MExN): Apropos the news item ‘No marijuana cultivation inside Intangki National Park’ published on April 18, Assam Rifles has clarified that it had not initiated “any unilateral action and violated or intended to violate any law concerning wildlife protection.”
The news report was a response from the Intangki National Park Director regarding the alleged destruction of marijuana at Intangki Reserve Forest by Assam Rifles.
“It appears that the authorities of Intangki National Park have taken the destruction of marijuana as an allegation leveled against them and through the ibid article have blamed and maligned the Security Forces, which is not the case,” stated a rejoinder from Lt Col Amitabh Sharma, PRO, HQ IGAR (N) today.
Assam Rifles further clarified that it had initially detected marijuana growth on the river banks of Dhansiri River about 3 km towards Intangki Reserve Forest from Beisumpuikam village, Peren district on April 8. The matter was reported to Nagaland Police authorities, it said.
“Following the investigation and verification by Police authorities a combined team of Civil Administration, Narcotics Cell, Kohima PHQ, DEF, Peren personnel and village representatives destroyed the marijuana cropping as per section 48 of NDPS Act, 1985 on April 11,” it added.
The rejoinder noted that AR have been at the forefront of spearheading ‘Drug Free Nagaland’ campaign across the state and has undertaken 113 activities along with NGOs/CSOs in the last six months.
