Opium Crackdown Intensifies After Court Reprimand; Farmers Allege Harassment

• Jabalpur High Court reprimand led to police suspensions, intensifying crackdown on opium trade in western Madhya Pradesh.
• Malwa region (Mandsaur, Neemuch, Ratlam) produces 80-85% of India's legal opium for medicinal use.
• Crackdown driven by rising smuggling, diversion, and illegal 'doda chura' trade, with black market prices 70-100 times higher.
• Farmers face harassment, fake cases, and extortion amid heightened vigil, despite opium cultivation being a tradition.
• Government pushes for tighter oversight via CPS model, digitization, and stricter licensing to curb diversion.

Why It Matters: Opium crackdown escalates, balancing legal production with illicit trade, sparking farmer concerns.