Three drug peddlers arrested, poppy cultivation destroyed in Kashmir
Srinagar, May 24: Three drug peddlers were arrested and poppy cultivation over about 100 kanals of land destroyed in the Kashmir valley during the past 24 hours, a police spokesman said.
Fifty-six drug peddlers were arrested and poppy crops spread over 500 kanals of land destroyed in the state during the past two months, he said.
He said a check point was established at Guzarbal Chowk in Srinagar and a truck was intercepted. During the search of the truck, a drug peddler identified as Mohammad Rafiq Mir, resident of Bahrampora Rafiabad, Baramulla, was arrested. Truck was also seized after 210 bottles of codeine phosphate and 720 capsules of Spasmoproxyvon were recovered.
In this regard, a case FIR No 72/2019 under relevant sections of law has been registered in Police Station Safa Kadal and investigation has been taken up.
Community members are requested to come forward with any information regarding drug peddlers in their neighbourhood. Persons found indulging in drug peddling will be dealt as per law.
'Our consistent actions against drug peddlers should reassure the community members that we are making efforts to keep our society free from the scourge of drug menace,' he said.
The spokesman said a drug peddler, identified as Hilal Ahmad Tiploo, resident of Dawood colony, Soura, was arrested at a check-point at Pandach. Contraband, including Charas Ghooti, Cannabis powder, Clonazepam, Alprazolam and cash Rs 11,085, were recovered from the possession of the accused person.
In this regard, a case FIR No 110/2019 under relevant sections of law has been registered in Police Station Ganderbal and investigation has been taken up.
He said a drug peddler Owais Ahmad Bhat, resident of Nowhatta, was arrested in Nigeen area of the city. Police seized 42 bottles of codeine phosphate and 270 tablets of Tapentadol from his possession.
In this regard, a case FIR No 45/2019 under relevant sections of law has been registered in Police Station Nigeen and investigation has been taken up.
He said police along with Excise and Revenue department officials destroyed poppy cultivation spread over 75 kanals of land in village Yanner, Charigam and Grend in Anantnag district. Community members are requested to come forward with any information regarding cultivation of contrabands in their neighbourhood. Persons found indulging in drug peddling & cultivation of contraband substances shall be dealt as per law.
Police and Revenue and Excise department officials in Bandipora also destroyed poppy cultivation at village Sadunara and adjoining areas spread over several kanals of land.
The spokesman said as a part of anti-drug campaign, Jammu and Kashmir Police have initiated a massive drive against poppy cultivation in the state.
He said in Pulwama district alone, police teams of different police stations were deployed in their respective areas to destroy the contraband and standing crop spread over 40 Kanals in the district was destroyed. In Anantnag and Kulgam district, more than 50 Kanals of land were cleared from the poppy cultivation. In Shopian and Awantipora, poppy cultivation spread over 300 kanals has been destroyed.
In other districts of the state also, police teams are on job to retrieve the agriculture land from the poppy cultivation. In Baramulla and Budgam, police have tightened noose against poppy cultivation to eradicate the drug menace from the state.
Besides, police is continuing its drive against the drug peddlers in the state and in recent times, a large quantity of drugs was seized at different places across the state. He said 56 drug peddlers were booked under relevant sections of law during past two months.
He said on May 8, Ramban police during a raid on a hotel in Banihal seized 30 Kgs of heroin which was to be transported to some other states of the country. This week, the police during surprise checking of vehicles on the Jammu- Srinagar National Highway at Digdol seized 33 gunny bags containing 650 Kgs of poppy from an oil tanker.