SRINAGAR: Police in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Sunday destroyed illegal poppy cultivation at two different locations and registered separate cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
According to officials, a team from Police Station Pahalgam launched an operation in the Branpath area following specific information about unlawful cultivation. During the raid, police allegedly found a resident of Sofipora, identified as Mohd Ibrahim Bhat, son of Gh Hassan Bhat, cultivating poppy on nearly 17 marlas of land. The crop was immediately destroyed, and a case under FIR No. 40/2026 under Section 8/18 of the NDPS Act was registered for further investigation.
In another operation, Police Station Mattan acted on information provided by the local beat officer and discovered illegal poppy plants growing in an orchard at Gopalpora Khurd. Police identified the accused as Mohd Hussain Khan alias Azad, son of Mohd Afzal Khan. The plantation was removed and destroyed on the spot, while FIR No. 52/2026 under Section 8/18 of the NDPS Act was also registered.
Police said further investigation into both cases is underway.
