RAUTAHAT: Opium plants worth around Rs 5 million cultivated in 3 hectares of land have been destroyed by Rautahat police under a campaign in the district, recently.

A joint team of security personnel deployed from the Rautahat District Police Office, Kopawa Pipariya Area Police Office and Bakul Border Police Post had destroyed the opium plants in Pipara Sagaiya Tol, Pathara Budharam VDC-9 in the eastern part of the district.

Acting on a tip-off, police had destroyed the plants with the help of local people and media persons.

Many farmers of the rural parts in the district are more attracted to the opium farming due to its high market price.

It is learned that Indian entrepreneurs have been cultivating the illegal crop by taking lands on rent.

The campaign aims to destroy such plants in other VDCs also to declare the district a drug-free zone very soon.