Police in Anantnag carried out a major anti-narcotics operation on Wednesday and destroyed illegal opium poppy cultivation spread across agricultural land in the Sarnal Bala area of the district.
According to officials, the action was conducted by a team from the Jammu and Kashmir Police as part of an intensified campaign against narcotics production and drug trafficking in south Kashmir. The police said the cultivation was identified during routine surveillance and field inspections in the area.
Authorities stated that the illegal crop was uprooted and destroyed on the spot to prevent its use in the production of narcotic substances. Police officials also warned local residents against engaging in the cultivation of banned crops, emphasizing that strict legal action would be taken against anyone found involved in such activities.
A police spokesperson said awareness campaigns are also being conducted in rural areas to educate farmers and residents about the legal consequences of cultivating opium poppy and the harmful impact of narcotics on society.
The operation forms part of a broader crackdown launched across Jammu and Kashmir against drug abuse and illegal narcotics networks. Over the past several months, law enforcement agencies have increased raids, arrests and destruction drives targeting cannabis and opium cultivation in multiple districts of the Union Territory.
Police have appealed to the public to cooperate with authorities and share information regarding any illegal narcotics-related activity in their localities. Officials said community participation remains crucial in the fight against drug trafficking and substance abuse in the region.
