Garoth/Mandsaur (Madhya Pradesh): Mandsaur police discovered an illegal methamphetamine (MD) manufacturing unit at a former Sarpanch house, seizing drugs around Rs 2.25 crore on Sunday.

Neemuch Narcotics Wing made the discovery after arresting two suspects on Saturday night.

The investigation began when police arrested Balu Singh Panwar (46) and Kamlesh Prajapat (34) near Neemuch bypass road, finding 800 grams of MD drugs with them.

During questioning, the suspects revealed that Dinesh Mohel, the former sarpanch of Akya Kunwarpad village, Garoth tehsil was running a drug factory from his house. When police raided Mohel's house, they found drug-making equipment and 300 grams of MD drugs hidden in a water tank near the property.

However, Mohel managed to escape before the police arrived. The total quantity of drugs seized, including those found with the first two suspects, was 1.1 kilogram, valued at approximately Rs 2.20 crore. Narcotics Wing Superintendent of Police Suraj Verma praised his team's efforts and announced that the officers involved in the successful raid would receive rewards.

The police have filed a case under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and are currently searching for the former sarpanch. The case highlights how drug operations can sometimes involve community leaders, making detection more challenging. The police action came after receiving initial information from two bike-riding informants who tipped them off about drug manufacturing at former sarpanch's house.