Rayagada (Orissa), Dec 31 : Police in Orissa''s Rayagada district have destroyed cannabis plants worth 20 million rupees.

Cannabis is used as a psychotropic drug.

The authorities raided several villages in the district and destroyed nearly 20,000 plants cultivated illegally in the forest area.

"There we find the illegal cultivation of ganja (marijuana) and we have uprooted about 20,000 hemp plants and destroyed in presence of executive magistrate. The approximate value of which will be about rupees two crores (rupees 20 million)," said Siba Prasad Gantayat, Excise Inspector, Rayagada.

The authorities suspect the Maoists to be behind the cannabis cultivation. (ANI)