Sri Vijaya Puram | February 24, 2026
Hut Bay Police have arrested a 44-year-old man for allegedly cultivating cannabis plants at his residence in R.B. Nagar, Ward No. 02, Little Andaman, and seized 21 ganja plants during a raid conducted on Friday morning.
According to FIR No. 0015/2026 registered at Police Station Hut Bay under Section 20(a)(i) of the NDPS Act, 1985 , credible information was received on February 20 regarding illegal cultivation of cannabis in the backyard of a house in R.B. Nagar.
The information was immediately conveyed to the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (Swaraj Dweep), who directed the constitution of a raiding team comprising independent witnesses and a Gazetted Officer. The Tehsildar of Little Andaman was requested to accompany the team as the Gazetted Officer.
The raiding team was led by Inspector Pritam Behari, SHO, PS Hut Bay, and included HC (D)/2549 Manoj Kumar Ekka, HC/417 M. Vinod Kumar, HC (SG)/1534 M. Sudharsana Rao, and PC/273 K. Naresh .
The team left the police station and proceeded to the location. Two independent witnesses were associated en route and briefed about the information received.
Upon reaching the residence, and in the presence of the Tehsildar (Gazetted Officer), the police informed the accused of his legal rights.
During a thorough search of the backyard area, police recovered 21 cannabis plants concealed in a cream-coloured half-cut jerrycan placed among the branches of a coconut tree . Each plant was individually measured and weighed on the spot using an electronic weighing machine.
As detailed in the FIR, the plants ranged in height from 13 cm to 49 cm, with individual weights varying between 0.5 grams and 4.0 grams. The total weight of the seized cannabis plants, including flags, was recorded as 28.8 grams .
The accused was arrested after completion of legal formalities for committing an offence punishable under Section 20(a)(i) of the NDPS Act, 1985.
