BAJAUR, Jan 29: At least 32 people were arrested by the political administration on Tuesday in a crackdown on poppy cultivation in Salarzi and Barang subdivisions.

The political administration is facing difficulties in the operation as people are not cooperating with it.

The cultivators were asked, earlier, to destroy the crop voluntarily. A Jirga also tried to convince the cultivators to stop sowing poppy.

The operation has so far been made in Batwar, Okashin, Shingergul, Dankul, Baramadak and Sru Wano in Salarzi subdivision and Targhao, Selai Pati, Sharbatai, Kama Dara and Mina in Barang.

The administration arrested those who were resisting the levy force.

The Bajaur Levy’s 70 workers were not paid their salaries for their failure in controlling poppy cultivation, an official told Dawn.

An American team of narcotics affairs section also visited the areas where poppy was cultivated.

It handed over seven vehicles to the administration for security along the Afghan border.