FIRs lodged against more than 40 individuals
ANANTNAG, MAY 23: A massive poppy destruction drive has been launched in Anantnag with Poppy cultivation over more than 107 kanals of land destroyed in the last month alone. The poppy destruction drives were held jointly by teams of Excise, Revenue and Police.
The District Magistrate (DM) Anantnag, Dr Piyush Singla said that under the aegis of Nasha Mukht Bharat, District Anantnag has been running several anti-drug initiatives.
He said a drug de-addiction centre is functional in the district adding that however, ensuring eradication of supply of drugs is an important area of intervention. He said detailed tehsil wise surveys have been carried out and all officials have been directed to act against the culprits as per law. He appealed to people to destroy any poppy cultivation voluntarily and warned them of grave consequences in case of non-compliance.
Excise and Taxation Officer, South Kashmir, Sameer Ahmad Dar said that poppy destruction drives have been conducted in Wanihama, Gantalipora, Dupatyar, Chittisinghpora, Ranipora, Pehru, Takyabal, Zirpora, Gund, Khatriteng, Larnoo, Draavy, Halan, Fatehpura Dialgam, Soaf Shali, Imoo, Sundoo, Thajiwara, Batpora Parden, Sallar, YK Pora, Adsoo, Tailwani and Viddy villages.
He said that sustained efforts have been carried out including vast awareness campaigns, voluntary poppy cultivation removal appeals and joint departmental poppy destruction drives. He said that already FIRs have been lodged against 40 individuals and any perpetrators found involved in the nefarious trade will be taken to task.
It is in place to mention that Anantnag was adjudged among the top three districts under Nasha Mukht Bharat Abhiyan by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment during the last year for sustained efforts at eradicating the menace of drugs from the society and several counseling programs are being run in the district to rescue youth who have fallen into this trap.
