Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 27: Police in south Kashmir’s militancy infested Pulwama district have started a special drive against the cultivation of contraband poppy crop.
The drive was being spearheaded by Superintendent of Police (SP) Pulwama, Rayees Ahmad and Deputy SP Shafiq Sahan. During the drive, the team destroyed poppy cultivation spread over 86 kanals of land in Chandgaam and Tahab villages.
Sources said there has been an increase in the cultivation of poppy in Pulwama this year. However, the SP Pulwama said that they are yet to do comparison with last year over the increase in the cultivation of contraband.
He said the drive against the poppy has been extended to Awantipora and nearby villages. “We have targeted those areas from where we receive information about the production of narcotics along with Excise and Taxation Department,” he said.
The SP admitted that the social crimes like production of contrabands increase in areas where there is law and order problem, saying people hesitate to inform police. In reply to a question, he said the land owners who cultivate poppy will not be spared and action against them would be taken under law.
He said awareness among masses is the need of hour to control the menace of growth of contraband. Meanwhile, a similar drive has been started in neighbouring Shopian district.
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