Ranchi, March 5: Khunti police have destroyed 1,503 acres of poppy in 40 villages under Khunti sadar, Murhu and Arki police stations in the past three months to salvage the reputation of tribal icon Birsa Munda's birthplace.

The development follows a shift in strategy of Jharkhand police to strengthen human intelligence rather than depending on satellite images to identify poppy cultivation.

Working in tandem with the CID and Narcotics Control Bureau, district police of Khunti, Chatra, Latehar, Garhwa and Palamau have destroyed cultivation on 2,500 acres. These districts are worst-hit by Left-wing extremism

"This time, we were able to identify and destroy poppy cultivation three times higher than last year. The drive started around December and will continue till April. So it is not a final tally," said ADG (CID) Ajay Kumar Singh.

A few days ago, Khunti police had destroyed poppy crop on 25 acres at Hansudami village bordering Ranchi district.

Sources said Jharkhand police did not depend solely on satellite images that cannot spot cultivation below 50 acres.

"We strengthened human intelligence and started preparations right after cultivation started. In most of the cases, common people informed us about illegal narcotic activities going on in their areas," ADG (operation) R.K. Mallik said.

He said extremist outfits were involved in opium cultivation, which was a major source of income for them. "Our strategy is to destroy such cultivation before drug syndicates process the poppy crop into opium. One kilo of unprocessed opium costs Rs 70,000. The money is used for terror funding," he said.

Latehar police have destroyed poppy plants on 400 acres and arrested a drug peddler with 9kg opium yesterday.

Chatra SP Anjani Kumar Jha said in the last three months poppy crop on 350 acres across 50 Naxalite-hit villages had been destroyed.

"Opium from Jharkhand is supplied to Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab," Jha said.

Garhwa and Palamau have destroyed poppy cultivation on around 50 acres.

According to the latest intelligence inputs, drug syndicates from Bengal and Bangladesh besides the Naxals have started to cultivate poppy in Dumka, Pakur and Sahebganj districts of Santhal Pargana on a large scale.

ADG (CID) said the inputs were being verified.

Besides private land, they cultivate on government and forest land.