MANSEHRA: A jirga of elders has banned poppy cultivation in Kohistan region and decided to hand over farmers growing the crop to police.

The jirga was held at the District Council Hall on Wednesday and attended by local elders who assured the police that they would not let anybody to cultivate poppy and the violators would be taken to task under the relevant law.

Police representatives present on the occasion said that the local community would also help police in curbing poppy cultivation.

“We have made it clear to everyone that poppy causes destruction to the health of our youths and we would not allow anybody to cultivate it,” said former MPA Malik Qadam Khan. He said that the jirga members and local residents were fully supporting the police to curb poppy and its uses.

Speaking on the occasion, Saifur Rehman said that in past local farmers would grow poppy for using it in traditional medicines, but now it was being used for making narcotics, which was prohibited by the law.

He said that the jirga would always support right things and traditions, while activities like cultivation of poppy would never be tolerated at any cost and the elders would extend complete help in eliminating poppy anywhere in the district.

Former member of the district council Malik Mukhtar welcomed police action for eliminating poppy crop in four union councils and said they would facilitate the police in this task.

Farmers violating ban to be handed over to police

Speaking on the occasion, inspector Noor Nabi Shah said that some farmers cultivated poppy in Suo, Kamila, Singlu and Postparu union councils of the district and the jirga should play its role for voluntary destruction of the crop. He welcomed the announcement made by the jirga to curb poppy cultivation and make Kohistan a narcotics-free district.

2 DIE IN RAIN-RELATED INCIDENTS: A woman and minor boy were killed in separate roof collapse incidents triggered by heavy rains in Gari Habibullah and Battagram here on Wednesday.

A woman, Zulekha Bibi, was buried alive under the debris of her house after it caved in owing to intermittent rain in Gari Habibullah area of Mansehra district. Local people pulled her from the debris, but she succumbed to her injuries on way to hospital.

Another such incident took place in village Armor area of Battagram where a house caved in owing to heavy rain, leaving one Mohammad Arsalan (6) dead and Saima Bibi (13) injured.

The local people pulled out the body and the girl from the debris. The rain continued intermittently in upper parts of Hazara on the fourth consecutive day on Wednesday.

11 ARRESTED: Mansehra police arrested nine youngsters and owners of two net cafes who were allegedly watching vulgar movies.

A police party raided two net cafes at old College Road where nine youngsters and owners of the net cafes were arrested. The police have registered cases against the detainees under Sections 292 and 293 of CrPC.

SHO Khushal Khan said that police had started operation against such net cafes and snooker centres in the city where youngsters were found watching unethical films on LCDs.

“We have issued warning to the net cafes and owners of all other such centres in the city and its suburbs and finally initiated a crackdown on those involved in the unethical business,” he said.

Published in Dawn March 5th , 2015

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