Vasco: In a major breakthrough, Vasco police arrested, 23-year-old Firdous alias Samir Shaikh, late on Thursday evening from Mangor hill for cultivating ganja-bearing plants in a vacant plot in Mangor.Anti-narcotic cell SP Umesh Gaonkar said, “Such cases have been coming to light in Goa since last year. The first was detected in Candolim and a similar case was reported in Siolim where foreigners were involved. This is the third incident.”Gaonkar said, “It's difficult to know if people are cultivating ganja but they know how to identify these plants. Growing the plant is illegal and we will book cases under the narcotics act.” He also said that the police will investigate if there are others involved, and find out where Shaikh procured the plant.Mormugao DySP Sunita Sawant said, “The matter is being investigated thoroughly. It is a serious matter. We want to send a strong message that this will not be tolerated.” She has directed the Vasco police to write to the authorities and get details of the owner of the property. Sources, however, said that the owner of the property where Shaikh was cultivating the plants had kept a caretaker at the plot. But Shaikh had grown the plants himself and was taking care of the plantation. Construcition work is also being carried out on the large plot where the plants were found. The Vasco police kept a watch at the site and on Thursday evening around 8.45pm when Shaikh returned to the site, he was picked up. Police said the accused is a Class IX dropout, who would take odd painting jobs and is otherwise unemployed.All the plants have been uprooted and 420gms of ganja seized from the site. It is estimated to be worth about Rs 85,000. Sawant said, “We are writing to the agriculture department to understand how to stop any further growth of the plant, possibly using chemicals.” Shaikh was granted conditional bail on Friday and directed to report at the Vasco police station for the next eight days. PSI Prajoti Dessai is investigating the case.

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