MANSEHRA, Jan 30: District Coordination Officer Hafeezur Rehman on Wednesday warned the poppy growers in Kala Dahaka to destroy the crop by Feb 10 or face an operation by the political administration.

During a meeting with the elders of Kala Dahaka at Darband, he said they had entered into an agreement with the political administration pledging not to grow poppy.

He lamented that the people of the area had begun growing poppy even outside the tribal belt by acquiring land on lease.

He said the government was determined to eliminate poppy from the area and no grower of the crop would be spared after Feb 10.

The elders enumerated problems of the area and demanded their solution so that the people could be convinced to destroy the crop. The district officer of the Frontier Constabulary, Salim Shah, and other officials were also present.