SWABI/ MOHMAND/BAJAUR: The Swabi police on Friday completed the task of destroying the poppy crop cultivated over 120 kanals of land in the mountainous Gadoon Amazi region, and also registered FIRs against 40 farmers for violating a 1987 agreement.

District police officer Najamul Husnain told Dawn that the operation was started six days ago, and the main areas where the police destroyed the crop were Dahlori, Chennai, Kolagar, Mangalchai, Deol Ghari, Bala and Payyan and Sarkoi.

During the operation, the farmers stayed away, fearing arrest and registration of FIRs against them.

DPO Husnain said the police thwarted the growers’ bid to collect opium as the poppy crop was about to be harvested.

When contacted, a farmer belonging to Kolagar area told Dawn that the poppy was destroyed at a time when it was about to be harvested in a day or two.

Officials said FIRs had been registered against the farmers in Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate police station.

They said the crop was cultivated in the mountainous areas, where it was difficult for police to reach. However, they said the police first collected the information about the crop through officials of revenue department and later conducted the operation, achieving the desired result.

In Mohmand district, poppy crop cultivated over 76 kanals was destroyed during an operation continuing for a week in different areas of Prang Ghar tehsil, a police officer said on Friday.

He said the operation was conducted under the supervision of DSP Ali Murad Khan and SHO Naeem Khan in Qawal, Babu Sir, Awara, Mande, Munzer, Paulsai and Yousaf Kali areas.

In Bajaur, the police destroyed poppy crop cultivated on a vast area in Barang tehsil the other day.

According to a statement, the poppy crop was destroyed during an operation conducted jointly by district administration and police, led by DSP Abdul Satar Khan.

It said that growers of the said area located in Asil Targaoo region, who had earlier refused to destroy the poppy willingly, agreed to destroy the crop voluntarily after holding successful talks with officials.

It said that a large area was cleared of poppy crop during the action that would continue to clear the entire of poppy.

The residents of the area told this scribe that the crop was destroyed after the officials of the district administration promised the local elders that several long standing issues of the growers would be resolved.

They said that it was for the first time after 2020 that the growers of Barang tehsil cultivated the poppy on such a vest area.

Published in Dawn, April 15th, 2023