Charas smuggler held; bhung cultivation over 638 kanals of land destroyed in Kashmir

Srinagar, Jul 29 :Jammu and Kashmir police arrested a charas smuggler and recovered contraband substance from his possession in Anantnag district, a police spokesman said here this afternoon. Meanwhile, bhung cultivation spread over 638 kanals of land has been destroyed by the Excise and Taxation (E&T) department in the Kashmir Valley, an official spokesman said. A police spokesman said on a specific information, a police party headed by SHO Aishmuqam laid a naka at Hangalpawa. During checking, a local resident Majid Khan was intercepted and about four kg of charas was recovered from his bag. Meanwhile, in its ongoing drive against bhung cultivation, the E&T Kashmir Department has, so far, destroyed bhang on 638 kanals of land in various parts of Kashmir. The Excise team headed by Excise & Taxation Officer, Central Kashmir Range, destroyed bhung on 35 kanals in the villages of Tangpore and Palpore in Srinagar yesterday. Another Excise team of North Kashmir Excise Range destroyed bhung on 82 kanals of land in village of Markundal in Bandipora. While as another Excise team of South Kashmir Excise Range destroyed bhung on 35 kanals of land in village Shaat Malooro in Shopian. The Department has said the drive will continue till the menace is rooted out from the Kashmir valley. UNI