Sankhwa (Bihar), Mar 5 : Police and paramilitary personnel on Thursday destroyed a large quantity of opium in a Maoist infested village here.

Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and the members of Special Task Force (STF) launched an investigation to ascertain the owner of the field.

Wielding long blades, the personnel destroyed the entire crop.

"We got information that there is a huge quantity of opium growing in this field. So a team of STF, and CRPF came to destroy the crop. We found around 10 acres under opium cultivation. The entire village has been vacated. People have left their houses. We are trying to find out the persons behind this opium cultivation," said Jay Prakash Pandit, a police official in Barachatti.

Police suspect Maoist involvement behind the cultivation of opium in the village.

In the past, Maoists have taken to opium farming to raise funds for their movement.

Jharkhand was the first state where opium farming was initiated by the Maoists. Encouraged by the success there; they have adopted similar models in other states as well. (ANI)