Four men were arrested after police raided eight cannabis farms in Umarban, in the Manawar area of Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh.[1] The accused were Anil Mandloi, Malsingh alias Haresingh Mory, Sakharam Mory and Gulsingh Mandloi, all residents of Badiya Patelpura.[2] Manawar station house officer Rajesh Yadav said the four were taken into police custody on the night of Saturday 31 October.[2] A case was registered against all four under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.[2]

Police said cannabis, known locally as ganja, was growing among maize, pigeon pea and cotton on the farms.[3] Police put the weight of the seized plants at about 67 quintals (6,700 kg).[2] Police estimated the market value at about Rs 25 crore.[4] Lalluram put the value at Rs 24 crore.[3] It took police teams about 24 hours to uproot the plants from the irrigated fields.[2] Forty constables, four assistant sub-inspectors and three station in-charges took part.[2] The crop was loaded onto five tractor-trolleys and taken to Manawar.[2] The plants were about 15 days from harvest, police said.[2]

The raids were part of Operation Prahar.[3] The operation is a district campaign against illegal cannabis cultivation.[1] It was led by Superintendent of Police Sachin Sharma.[3] Additional Superintendent of Police Vijay Dawar said police used drones to survey forests, hills and fields.[4] The operation covered Manawar, Mandav, Gandhwani, Bagh and Tanda in southern Dhar district.[4] Dawar said it began on Friday 30 October and continued until Saturday evening.[4]