The inspiring story of Malayali IPS officer Swathi S Kumar

Kozhikode: Marijuana cultivation was prevalent in the villages of Odisha. The contraband was transported to various parts of the country, including Kerala, from those villages. However, all the illegal activities in the villages came to a standstill once Swathi S Kumar IPS took charge as the Superintendent of Police of Gajapati district. She is a native of Chevayur in Kozhikode district.

Swathi led raids across the regions where marijuana was being cultivated. She became a nightmare for the cannabis farmers. She also played a crucial role in helping the Kerala police nab Odisha native Namitha Pareecha aka ‘Ganja Rani’ and her aides.

The team under Swathi seized a total of 10,000 kgs of ganja in eleven cases between July-August. The brave police officer from Kerala also holds the record for seizing around 20,000 kilograms of ganja in around six months. Apart from this, the team under Swathi has destroyed several acres of cannabis farms as well. 

Marijuana cultivation is majorly centred around the regions of Adaba, Mohana and R Udayagiri. The ganja produced in these regions are also transported to states including Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Delhi (UT), Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. 

The ganja cultivation in Odisha mostly happens in remote villages without proper communication and transport facilities. It is often difficult to spot the farms situated in secret locations on mountainous terrains. Drones are used for this purpose. During the search operations, the police force armed with rifles will have to walk kilometres in the forest. It might take almost an entire day to destroy a strip of cannabis farm. To make things worse, the cannabis farmers will be most likely armed with various weapons.

“Even children who are just 17 years old are engaged in Marijuana cultivation in these regions. The police force is coordinating with district authorities in order to provide rehabilitation facilities for such kids and for helping them find other means of living,” says Swathi.

It should be noted that marijuana cultivation is prevalent in the southern districts of Odisha, in areas which were earlier strongholds of Maoists. Violence and bloodshed are part of the business. A group of armed people had attacked the Adaba police station last year.

Swathi is the daughter of Kozhikode residents M Sreekumar and A Geetha.