Durg Encroachment Drive: Bulldozer Rolls Over BJP Leader’s Kin’s Shop After Massive Opium Haul
In a major crackdown on illegal land grabbing and following one of the largest drug busts in the region, the Durg district administration on Tuesday demolished a shop owned by the brother of a local BJP leader. The action, which took place in Gram Samoda, comes just days after authorities seized a staggering 62,000 kg of opium from a farm linked to the same family.
The bulldozer was deployed against the property of Brijesh Tamrakar, the brother of Vinayak Tamrakar, a BJP leader who was recently arrested for allegedly cultivating opium on a large scale. The demolition is being seen as a firm message from the administration against influential land mafias.
20-Year-Old Illegal Encroachment Removed
Officials from the revenue department, accompanied by a heavy police force, carried out the anti-encroachment drive in Samoda village on Tuesday afternoon. The target was a building materials shop constructed by Brijesh Tamrakar on 32 dismil of government land.
According to local villagers, the encroachment was over two decades old. "This shop has been illegal for 20 years. There were orders to remove it back in 2013, but nothing happened until now," said Neeraj, a local resident who had previously alerted authorities about the opium cultivation. The administration finally acted on March 10, 2026, clearing the illegal structure.
During the demolition, a crowd of onlookers gathered, with some villagers raising slogans against the BJP government and the accused leader. The presence of Tehsildar Kshama Yadu ensured the operation was carried out without any major law and order issues.
The Opium Trail: A Multi-Crore Seizure
This encroachment action is the second act in a high-profile case that began on March 6, when police raided Vinayak Tamrakar’s farmland in Samoda and Jhenjhari villages. What they found was astonishing: over 5 acres of land were being used to illegally cultivate opium poppies.
After days of uprooting the plants, the authorities have seized a total of approximately 62,000 kilograms of opium plants. The estimated value of this haul is a staggering ₹7.88 crore. The massive quantity of the seized crop required four tractors to transport it to a secure location, where it awaits disposal after receiving permission from the environmental department.
Adding to the gravity of the case, police revealed that the farm was heavily fortified. "The accused had installed live electric wires on the fencing near the gate to prevent anyone from entering the field," a police official stated. "They had also deployed bouncers for security."
Arrests and Ongoing Investigation
The police have already arrested Vinayak Tamrakar and two other accused individuals in connection with the opium cultivation case, while two others remain absconding. Searches at the premises of a linked individual, Vikas Bishnoi, led to the recovery of raw opium, poppy seeds, and equipment used for processing.
The land on which the opium was grown is officially registered in the names of Preetibala and Madhumati Tamrakar, who are reportedly Vinayak’s sisters. During questioning, both women claimed ignorance of the illegal farming, stating that Vinayak never allowed them to visit the field.
What’s Next?
The administration has made it clear that the crackdown will not stop here. "The 20-year-old encroachment on the 32 dismil of land has been cleared today," said Naib Tehsildar Kshama Yadu. "The revenue team is now investigating other illegal encroachments on government land in the area."
With two accused still on the run and the massive task of destroying 62,000 kg of narcotic crop pending, this case remains a top priority for the Durg police and administration. The twin actions—the drug bust and the bulldozer drive—signal a zero-tolerance approach towards a nexus of political influence, land grabbing, and illegal narcotics in the region.
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