Srinagar, July 24 (GNS): In a major crackdown, authorities have destroyed cannabis cultivation on around 800 kanals in Lolab area of north-Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
On July 19, Conservator Forests Kashmir North Circle Sopore formed a team of officers in order to destroy illegal bhang “being cultivated at Trimukha top.”
“The team is hereby constituted for carrying out the operation and will be headed by Divisional Forest Officer, Kamraj Forest Division, Deputy Director Forest Protection Force Kupwara, Range Officer Kandi with Range Staff, Range Officer SL with his Range Staff, Range Officer Khuihama with his staff (Bandipora Forest Division) and Deputy Director Forest Protection Force will bring heavy contingent for this operation,” the order reads.
Reports reaching GNS said since Tuesday morning, a team of around 250 forest department employees including high and lower rung officials led by DFO Kamraj Zahid Aslam visited Trimukha top of Lolab which shares its boundaries with Kandi area and Bandipora district.
Laced with equipments including threshers, the team destroyed some 700-800 kanals of cultivated cannabis. The operation is seen as a major crackdown in the last 10 years in Lolab.
DFO Kamraj Zahid Aslam told GNS that the drive will continue in the coming days as well.
“We won’t tolerate the cultivation (of cannabis) at any cost,” he said adding, “We have already earmarked other areas where the operation will be launched”.
Meanwhile, the civil society Kupwara has welcomed the move and expressed hope that the drive will continue. (GNS)
