One of the two accused in an illegal opium poppy cultivation case in the Koida area of Sundargarh district reportedly escaped from police custody, prompting police to launch an intensive search operation. The incident occurred when police had taken the accused to the Koida Community Health Centre (CHC) for a routine medical examination.
The accused has been identified as Balaram Rahangia, a native of the Jharkhand region. According to sources, during an attempt to apprehend him, police fired at his leg. Despite sustaining an injury, the accused managed to flee from the spot and evade custody.
Police officials said they currently have no confirmed information regarding the whereabouts of the absconding accused. Search operations have been intensified in Koida and surrounding forest areas to trace him.
The case is linked to the detection of illegal opium poppy cultivation spread across nearly nine acres of forest land near Pundupokhari village under Koida police station limits. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, joint teams of the Excise Department and local police carried out an operation and destroyed the standing crop. Officials estimated the value of the uprooted opium poppy cultivation to be over ₹30 lakh.
During the operation, two individuals were detained and taken to Koida CHC for medical examination. It was during this process that Balaram Rahangia allegedly escaped through a sudden manoeuvre. Police said further investigation into the case is underway.
