Locals directed to destroy poppy cultivation or face legal action in Valley

SHAKEELA ANDRABI

SRINAGAR: Locals in Kulgam have been warned to destroy the illicit poppy cultivations within five days failing which legal action under rules will be initiated against them. The order comes as part of the Government’s ban on cultivation of harmful and illegal substances including cannabis and poppy under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Tehsildar Kulgam Bilal Ahmad issued directives in a bid to clamp down on illegal drug cultivation, according to whichall Kulgam Tehsil residents have been advised to refrain from engaging in such unlawful and illegal activities. ‘If any person found involved in such serious crime, strict legal action (imprisonment) will be initiated against him,’ the order states, adding that those who have done such cultivation should dispose it within five days positively. Those who will not comply to directives will face severe legal consequences, the order warned. Tehsildar Damhaal Hanjipora also issued a similar order giving three days to locals to destroy cannabis cultivation, if any. Meanwhile, 21 Kanals of illicit poppy cultivation was destroyed by officials of Revenue and Excise Departments in jurisdiction of Tehsil Kulgam.
Last year on August 12, 2022, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court dismissed bail plea of farmers for cultivation poppy seeds in their respective lands terming it as a heinous crime. The court was hearing a bail plea filed by a group of farmers of village Chee, Anantnag seeking bail in anticipation of their arrest in FIR for offences under Sections 8/15/25 of Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (NDPS) Act registered at Police Station Anantnag.
Systematic efforts by the State Excise Department to eradicate crop began in 2019 and authorities have destroyed poppy over 1,427 Kanals in South Kashmir, 520 Kanals in North Kashmir and 780 Kanals in Central Kashmir.
In 2022, more than 350 Kanals land of illicit poppy cultivation was destroyed and more than 30 FIRs were registered against cultivators in south Kashmir.