Pimpri: A drug racket is active in the twin towns. They are smuggling narcotics from Rajasthan via Gujarat. A variant of opium locally known as ‘Duda Chura’ has the highest demand. It is the second most consumed drug after cannabis or ganja. Young people are falling prey to its addiction. The Anti-Narcotics Cell of the police has been turning a blind eye to its sale in the city, which has emboldened the drug smugglers.
Since cannabis is easily available, youngsters and addicts prefer it. Now, ‘Duda Chura’, the opium variant, is also easily available. The contraband is smuggled in from the border areas of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Thus, the industrial township has gone in the grip of ‘Duda Chura’. Many collegians, workers from MIDC and upper class people are getting addicted to Duda Chura. Most of the addicts are from North India.
Supply centre on the highway
Duda Chura is transported in gunny bags by private passenger buses via Gujarat from Rajasthan. Its consignments are then loaded on two private vehicles and delivered at two particular places in the city.
Smuggling twice a week
Duda Chura is brought into the city by private buses twice a week. Gunny bags are unloaded on the highway in the morning. Apparently, the Anti-Narcotics Cell is ignoring this.
Medicinal plant
Duda Chura is brought in as a medicinal plant for ayurvedic treatment in the city. It can be consumed by soaking in water or can be chewed or smoked.
Consumption with water
Duda Chura is soaked in water overnight. Its extract gets dissolved in water, which is drunk in the morning. It is said that one does not feel tired even after doing hard manual work throughout the day after drinking Duda Chura-soaked water. However, it is an intoxicant. Hence, it is a legal offence to consume it.
Anti-narcotics action
Various squads of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Crime Branch as well as local police stations take action against the narcotics trade. However, the Anti-Narcotics Cell does not seem to be active. It needs to crack down on the Duda Chura smuggling.
What is Duda Chura
The opium is extracted by taking cuts on the unripe seedpods of the poppy plant. It is then separated from the pods. Dried pods or its crushed remains are called Duda Chura. It contains morphine in a miniscule quantity. However, it can intoxicate one.
Option for cannabis
Cannabis is consumed as it is easily available. However, Duda Chura is preferred as an option to ganja. Duda Chura can be readily consumed by soaking in water. Hence, many youngsters are getting addicted to it.
