HARIPUR, Nov 28: Haripur District Police Officer Abdul Rasheed Khan has said that poppy cultivation will not be allowed in the area and anyone found violating the ban will be severely dealt with.

The official told media persons here on Tuesday that police had held meetings with farmers of remote union councils of Nara Amazai and Bait Gali of Ghazi tehsil and they had agreed to abide by the law.

He said that if anyone violated the ban on poppy cultivation, his crop would be destroyed and case would be registered against him under the Control of Narcotic Substance Act.

In reply to a question, the DPO said that unless local people the revenue department cooperated with the police in identifying the areas where poppy was grown, they would not be in a position to check its cultivation.

He said most of the Afghan refugees were poor people and only a few of them were involved in crimes and police would apprehend them. He said the two most wanted accused in the Kotnajibullah firing case had been arrested.