Bhang cultivation spread over 200 kanals destroyed in Kashmir

Srinagar, Aug 9 :  Authorities have destroyed bhang cultivation spread over 200 kanals of land in Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderbal district during the past 24 hrs. A police spokesman said here today that officials of Excise Department and Jammu and Kashmir police in its drive against the contraband crops, destroyed bung cultivation spread over a vast patch of land at village Shadipora in Ganderbal during day-long operation yesterday. Moreover, the team, headed by Safapora and Lar police stations, also destroyed a huge quantity of bhang at Bypass area. An official spokesman said that Excise Department (ED) team headed by Excise & Taxation Officer, Central Kashmir Excise Range destroyed Bhang on 68 kanals of land in the village Gund Rehman of Tehsil Tulmulla in District Ganderbal. He said second Excise team, headed by Excise & Taxation Officer, North Kashmir, destroyed Bhang on 36 kanals of land in village Shahgund of Tehsil Hajin of District Bandipora. Third Excise team, headed by Excise & Taxation Officer South Kashmir Excise Range, destroyed bhang on 56 kanals of land in village Path Nambal of Tehsil Srigufwara of District Anantnag. The Deputy Excise Commissioner said that so far, a total of about 1,500 kanals of bhang has been destroyed across the valley by the Excise department. Excise Department warned Bhang cultivators to desist from the cultivation of these narcotic plants. Cultivators are directed to destroy their crop within three days positively, failing which stern action shall be initiated against the culprits under the relevant provision of law. He said a team, headed by Excise & Taxation Officer, North Kashmir, destroyed bhang on 35 kanals of land in village Goshbug in north Kashmir district of Baramulla. He said that the drive would continue till the menace is rooted out from Kashmir valley. UNI