Overview
- Opposition protests over alleged illegal opium cultivation in Samoda, Durg, led to the suspension of Congress MLAs, with reports differing on whether 29 were later reinstated or 35 were suspended.
- A joint operation by police, the NCB, FSL, excise and revenue officials secured the site on March 6 and completed seizures on March 7 under a chief judicial magistrate, with an NDPS case registered at Pulgaon police station.
- Three accused were arrested, including local BJP Kisan Morcha leader Vinayak Tamrakar, who has been suspended by the party and named in the FIR; teams were dispatched to Jodhpur to trace additional suspects.
- Authorities reported seizing approximately 62,424 kg of opium plants valued around Rs 7.8 crore, while another official account cited 6,224 kg across nearly 11 acres, reflecting unresolved discrepancies under review.
- Investigators reported the poppy was grown between maize and wheat inside a fenced 110-acre farmhouse with CCTV and restricted access, with labourers brought from Rajasthan, as the Assembly also saw a walkout over paddy procurement delays in Bastar.