BAJAUR, Nov 24: In a fresh action against poppy growers, the political administration has arrested 23 farmers of the Salarzai tribe of Bajaur Agency and impounded more than a dozen private vehicles, according to sources here on Sunday.

A big contingent of the Bajaur levies force, headed by the political Tehsildar of Salarzai subdivision, launched the operation against the poppy cultivation in the far-flung mountainous areas of the agency, the sources said.

The operation was conducted in five villages, where, the sources stated, the banned crop had been cultivated over more than one thousand acres.

The sources said that the action was taken over the failure of the tribal elders who had assured the administration during the recent anti-poppy campaign, wherein more than 80 tribesmen had been held, that the crop would be destroyed voluntarily.

The tribesmen arrested on Saturday night include tribal maliks Noor Khan, Zahir Khan, Arjumand and Sadiq and some of the detained persons have been identified as Farooq, Naqib Jan, Tahir Malang, Sarmast Gul, Jan Zahir, Akbar Khan, Sultan, Janwali, Hazrat Shah and Malik Yar.

The political Tehsildar said that the action was taken after the tribal elders of Salarzai subdivision refused to cooperate with the administration in its efforts against the cultivation of poppy.