Drug peddler held in Handwara: Police

Handwara : Police on Saturday said that it has arrested a drug peddler in Handwara and also recovered contraband substances from his possession and Police along with officers from Revenue Department destroyed poppy cultivation spread on vast area of land in PDs of Awantipora and Sopore.
In a statement issued on Saturday police said that a police party from Police Post Chogul during patrolling at Wahipora on Sopore-Kupwara highway apprehended one person who attempted to escape on seeing the police party in suspicious manner. Stating that about 200 grams of Charas like substance was recovered from the possession of the above named accused identified as Shabir Ahmad Lone @Raina son of GhMohi-Ud-Din Lone resident of Tujar Sopore, police in it’s statement further said that the said accused has been shifted to Police Station where he remains in custody. Police further said that a case vide FIR number 124/2022 under relevant sections of law has been registered at PS Handwara and investigation has been taken up.
Stating further that in Awantipora, a special drive against illegal poppy cultivation was carried out in various villages of Sub Division Awantipora, Tral and Pampore and poppy cultivation spread on over 18 Kanals of land was destroyed , Police in the above referred statement said a police team headed by SDPO Awantipora Mumtaz Ali Bhatti along with Executive Magistrate, SHO PS Awantipora and officials of Revenue department destroyed illegal poppy cultivation spread on 03 Kanals of land at Bahu, Awantipora, stating therein further that another team of Police led by SHO PS Pampore along with officials of Revenue and Excise department destroyed illegal poppy cultivation spread on 5 Kanals of land at Samboora.
Similarly, two more teams of Police led by SHO PS Tral and In-charge PP Aripal along with officials of Revenue and Excise department destroyed illegal poppy cultivation spread on about 10 Kanals of land at Monghama, Lurgam, Seer, SyedabadPastuna and Lurow”, reads the police statement, adding that the cases under relevant sections of law have been registered against the illegal poppy cultivators in their respective police stations and investigation has been initiated.
Stating further that in another action in Sopore, a Police party from Police Station Sopore headed by SHO PS Sopore along with officers from Revenue Department destroyed illegal poppy cultivation spread over 02 kanals of land at Arampora Sopore and cases vide FIR Nos. 91 & 92/2022 under relevant sections of law “were registered at Police Station Sopore and investigation has been initiated.
In the concluding para of its statement police appealed people to come forward with any information regarding drug peddlers in their neighbourhood but warned that people found indulging in drug peddling will be dealt with as per law, stating therein further that consistent actions against drug peddlers are taken to keep society free from the scourge of drug menace.