March 2, 2002	Saturday	Zilhaj 17, 1422

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

BAJAUR, March 1: The political authorities have destroyed poppy crop grown over thousands of acres in the  far-flung mountainous area of Gabri along the Pakistan-Afghan border.

A strong contingent of the Bajaur Levies, led by the Mohmand political Tehsildar launched the operation.

According to reports reaching here, the locals resisted the operation  and armed tribesmen threatened the tribal security force with dire consequences if they did not abandon the anti-poppy drive.

To save the situation from turning bad, some influential tribal elders and Maliks intervened and persuaded the growers not to oppose the operation, said sources, adding that the levies personnel destroyed poppy grown over 2,000 acres at the Gabri village.

Official sources conceded to Dawn on Friday that the tribesmen had resisted the operation but claimed that the official machinery  was determined to enforce the writ of government and eliminate the crop.

The sources said that about 15 tribesmen, who clashed with the levies personnel in different areas, had been arrested and sent to jail. They said the operation would continue until the poppy crop was completely eliminated.

The tribesmen have repor-tedly cultivated poppy over a large area along the border and are demanding concessions in return for destroying the crop.