BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Police is committed to make the state free of narcotics trade by March, 2029, said outgoing DGP YB Khurania on Sunday.
Addressing mediapersons before demitting his office after retirement, Khurania said the state police have launched ‘Nishamukta Odisha Abhiyan’ campaign to curb the drugs trade and eliminate ganja cultivation in at least eight districts.
He said between August, 2024 and July, 2026, police in coordination with Excise, Forest and Revenue departments either seized or destroyed drugs worth over Rs 4,000 crore. A total of 4,892 cases were registered under NDPS Act and 5,376 peddlers/dealers arrested during this period.
“As part of the drive, about 64,022 acre of cannabis cultivation was destroyed over the last two years, 1,395 cases were registered and 48 accused apprehended. More than 4.42 lakh kg ganja worth over Rs 2,000 crore was seized, 2,706 cases were registered and 3,867 arrests made. Similarly, police seized 28.53 kg brown sugar valued at Rs 56.90 crore, registered 662 cases and arrested 1,032 accused,” said Khurania.
The cases registered under NDPS Act increased to 23.8 per cent in the first six months of 2026. “The drive against drugs menace will continue and efforts will be made to eliminate the narcotics trade in the state by March, 2029,” he asserted.
The outgoing DGP further said stringent steps have been taken against various heinous crimes in the state, which has witnessed a decline in the last three years. In 2025, dacoity cases decreased by 30.2 per cent and riot cases by 25.6 pc as compared to 2024.
There was a decline in crimes such as rape, theft, robbery and cheating too, he added.
According to the official data, dacoity decreased by 22.8 pc, robbery 14.2 pc, theft 8.6 pc, riots 4.4 pc, murder 2.9 pc and house-breaking by 0.8 pc between January and June this year as against the corresponding period last year.
Odisha Police also managed to secure an impressive conviction rate of 87.6 pc under BNS between July, 2024 and December, 2025, Khurania said. He also said the Naxal menace in Odisha was eliminated by March 31 this year as per the Centre’s deadline.
