Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar Apr 27 : Police today booked at least 47 persons for growing cannabis in the forests of Pahalgam in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Police said based on a criminal complaint lodged by the concerned Forest Range Officer, they registered an FIR (No 18/2021) under Sections of 8/20 NDPSA and 26 Indian Forest Act against forty-seven persons of Ladroo village for growing the prohibited herb.
“We have registered the FIR against the people who are growing Cannibus on the encroached forest land. We will take strict action against them. We will strongly deal with anyone involved in this trade. Besides, our professional duties, we are doing it for the larger good of our society. We will eradicate this menace from here. First, we have to break this supply chain to save our youth,” Imtiyaz Husain, Senior Superintendent of Police Anantnag said.
Mohammad Altaf, Range Forest Officer Pahalgam told Excelsior that the villagers have been cultivating the cannabis for the last several years in these forests. “They cultivate the Cannabis in patches at scattered places so that it looks naturally grown,” he said.
He added earlier we used to destroy the cannabis with the help of the Excise Department. “But today we registered an FIR against them so that this practice is stopped once for all,” he said.
Asked about the area of land being used for the cultivation, he said: “We cannot measure the land as they develop multiple patches across a particular compartment. Just like any other crop they harvest it and sell it in the market.”
The Ladroo village has a population of around 10,000 people with 6000 belonging to schedule caste who spent summers in higher altitudes. The villagers said the practice of growing Cannabis has been going on for several years. “Earlier they used to grow these plants openly in their agricultural land. However, as the police intensified their vigil, these people shifted to upper reach,” a local said.
They accused the forest officials of being hand in glove with the culprits. “Cultivating Canibus over 30-60 kanals cannot be done overnight as everything has to be done manually. How could forest guards miss such activity in the first instance? This proves they are involved. They have randomly booked people with no proof to save their skin,” locals said.
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