Thursday, January 14, 2010

Police bust marijuana racket in Assam

A multi-crore international marijuana racket was busted Wednesday in Assam with authorities destroying up to 2,000 kg of the contraband substance on the outskirts of Guwahati.

A police spokesperson said marijuana cultivation spread over an estimated seven acres of land was destroyed at Jursimolu village, about 50 km west of here.

"Based on specific inputs, we raided the village and (were) surprised to find marijuana being cultivated in a massive way," H.K. Nath, additional police chief of Kamrup Rural district, told IANS.

"We managed to destroy about 2,000 kg of marijuana cultivated in an area spread over seven acres of land."

Police said the area was inhabited by illegal Bangladeshi migrant settlers.

"Locals said crude marijuana is stacked in sacks mixed with garlic and jute and transported to Bangladesh using the river route," the police official said.

"We are investigating the matter and the possibility of some drug lord operating this racket cannot be ruled out."

Locals, however, alleged that there was a nexus between the police and the marijuana farmers as a police outpost was located just about two kilometres from the village.

"We shall continue with our operation and wipe out the entire cultivation. We found people in their backyards also cultivating marijuana, besides in huge tracts of land close to the river bank," Nath said.

A kilogram of marijuana sells at about Rs.5,000.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

India hockey players end pre-World Cup strike

Striking members of the Indian hockey team have decided to return to a training camp for the World Cup.

Their decision came after hockey authorities decided to settle their demands for wages.

Separately, Indian company Sahara, which is also the official team sponsor, has decided to give $220,000 to the players immediately.

The hockey World Cup begins in the Indian capital, Delhi, on 28 February and lasts a fortnight.

The players had stayed away from the camp since Sunday after a dispute over wages.

Hockey authorities had accused the players of blackmail, and given them an ultimatum to return to the training camp by Thursday.

'Reasonable'

"We have sorted out the problem," Indian sports official Suresh Kalmadi said.

"The players have given us a list of demands, and most of them are reasonable."

Mr Kalmadi said the team would be returning to the training camp on Thursday.

The team's official sponsor Sahara has chipped in with $220,000 for distribution to the players so that they can "peacefully and happily" train and play for their country, a statement released by the company said.

Mr Kalmadi said several other companies had agreed to help the team financially.

Reports say chief minister of India's northern Uttar Pradesh state Mayawati has also offered the team 50 million rupees ($1m).

Earlier, Indian Sports Minister MS Gill appealed to the players to "immediately join training, and continue so, with full heart, till the [World Cup] tournament, and focus to win it".

The team went on an indefinite strike on Sunday despite reports of a truce with the hockey authorities.