GHALLANAI, Dec 28: Political authorities on Thursday arrested 20 poppy growers, and destroyed the poppy crop over 200 kanals in the Yaka Ghund area of the Mohmand Agency.

According to sources, the administration had launched a drive in different parts of the remote area against the poppy cultivation, and arrested 20 farmers in Prang Ghar tehsil of the Yaka Ghund sub-division for growing the banned crop.

The arrested men were sent to the Central Jail, Dera Ismail Khan, under the Frontier Crimes Regulation.

The sources said that the authorities had also detained a child named Sher Hassan, son of Umar, on the charge of growing poppy.

The sources said that the political authorities had the cooperation and support of the local elders during the drive, which would continue till April.

The federal government has banned cultivation of poppy crop in tribal areas and the NWFP.