12 quintal hemp seized

Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, May 3 (UNI) About 12 quintals of hemp, worth Rs 12 lakh, has been seized from a 'dhaba (roadside restaurant' owner in this district, police said today.

Ramesh Rajak (35), a former employee of 'dhaba' owner Shakeel Ahmed, had found job somewhere else because of the latter's ill-treatment and less salary.

On April 30, Ahmed abducted Ramesh and beat him up. Later, Ramesh lodged a complaint with police about the incident on May 1 and revealed about Ahmed's illegal drug business.

On the basis of information from Ramesh, police arrested Ahmed and seized eight quintal hemp from the restaurant and four quintal hemp each from two vehicles.

Police said Shakeel had been arrested earlier in connection with drug peddling a few years back. He used to smuggle hemp in large quantities from Orissa.

UNI