In a decisive move against the spread of narcotics in North and Middle Andaman, the Kalighat Police Station team has arrested a local cultivator for growing cannabis in his residence compound at Ward No. 3, Kalighat. The operation, conducted on November 10, marks another successful action under the district’s ongoing campaign to eliminate the menace of illicit ganja cultivation and trafficking.
Acting on credible intelligence, a raiding team led by Sub-Inspector Shibendra Nath Halder, Station House Officer of PS Kalighat, carried out a search operation at the suspected premises. The team, which included Head Constables Ashok Samaddar and Santosh Kr. Nair of IRBN, and Police Constables Samresh Mistry, Ranjit Biswas, Sujit Kumar, and Elieen, executed the raid under the supervision of Chandan G.S., SDPO Diglipur. Two independent witnesses were also present during the operation to ensure transparency and procedural compliance.
Upon reaching the site, the police team conducted a thorough search of the house and surrounding area. During the inspection, officers discovered a cannabis plant growing behind the vegetable garden. The plant, weighing approximately 1.2 kilograms, was immediately seized. On interrogation, the resident, identified as Kiran Barman (37), son of Late Kalipada Barman and a resident of Kalighat, Ward No. 3, admitted to cultivating and maintaining the plant. He reportedly told officers that the ganja was intended for his personal consumption and occasionally shared with friends in exchange for payment.
Following the recovery, the police registered a case under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at PS Kalighat, and the accused was taken into custody. The seized material has been sent for necessary forensic and procedural examination. Authorities stated that the arrest demonstrates the police’s ongoing vigilance and the department’s zero-tolerance policy toward drug-related offences in the district.
Officials from the North and Middle Andaman Police reiterated that local enforcement units remain on constant alert against illegal cultivation, possession, or sale of narcotics. The district’s anti-narcotics drive has intensified in recent months with a focus on identifying and dismantling small-scale cultivation networks that often operate discreetly within residential or agricultural premises.
Law enforcement agencies emphasized that curbing cultivation at the local level is crucial to breaking the broader chain of distribution and consumption. Even isolated incidents, they noted, contribute to the persistence of the drug problem and pose risks to community safety, particularly among youth. The police urged residents to cooperate in providing timely and credible information on any suspicious activity linked to narcotics or other illegal trade.
To strengthen community-police collaboration, the public has been encouraged to report any such information to their nearest police station or through helpline numbers 100, 112, and 03192-273344. Officials assured that the identity of informants will remain strictly confidential, and those assisting enforcement with actionable intelligence will be suitably rewarded.
The North and Middle Andaman District Police continue to conduct surprise checks, awareness campaigns, and inter-agency coordination to address the evolving challenges of narcotics control. The emphasis remains not only on punitive measures but also on community engagement and education, aiming to prevent substance abuse through awareness and deterrence.
The latest action by PS Kalighat reflects the department’s resolve to pursue a drug-free society through swift response and stringent enforcement. Authorities reaffirmed that such operations will continue across the district to deter offenders and safeguard the public, particularly the younger generation, from the harmful impact of narcotics.
