The people who had stored the ganja fled before Kalimela police reached the forest near Venkatapallam village, in Odisha’s Malkangiri district, having received prior warning of police movements.[1] No accused had been arrested in the case registered at Kalimela police station.[2] Inspector-in-Charge Prabhudatta Biswal confirmed that Case No. 241, dated 3 October 2026, had been registered under Section 20(b)(ii) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.[1] Police were still trying to identify and arrest the people who fled.[1]

Police launched a search operation in the forested area near Venkatapalam after information that cannabis had been stashed there.[1] They seized 300 kg of ganja, or cannabis, hidden in the forest.[1] The contraband was measured on the spot in the presence of Kalimela Additional Tehsildar Rajeev Kumar Behera, who acted as the magistrate, and independent witnesses.[1] Sub-Inspector Prashant Sabat led the raid team.[1] Police suspected that inter-state smuggling networks from neighbouring states were involved in hoarding the consignment.[1]