The Visakhapatnam District rural Police on August 6, claimed that the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres are taking to cannabis (ganja) cultivation in the agency area of Andhra Pradesh, reports The Times of India. As per the Police, the nexus between Maoists and cannabis traders came to the fore after the arrest of one Kolakani Kamesh from Maddigaruvu area in Gangaraju Madugula Mandal (administrative sub-division) in the District on August 5. “We always knew Maoists collect levy from ganja traders. Now we have come to know that they are into ganja cultivation too,” said Satish Kumar, Officer on Special Duty (OSD), anti-Maoist operations.
Kamesh was arrested by Gangaraju Madugula Police on August 5, and INR 1,76,000 in cash, 24 kilograms of ganja, two steel carriages, 10 detonators, nuts and bolts were recovered from his residence. Kamesh, during interrogation, accepted that he had been working for Maoists for the last four years. He also said that he was contacted by Maoist couple – Ashok and his wife Lakshmi, who used to supply him ganja stock. “He would use the money from the sale to procure food material, medicines, and even explosives for Maoists. They are now engaging local tribals to cultivate ganja,” said the OSD.