*Anantnag Police Registers 16 FIRs against narco cultivators in single day. Illegal Cultivation on 150 marlas Destroyed in District-Wide Crackdown*
Anantnag, 24 April 2026:In a major crackdown against illegal narcotic cultivation, Anantnag Police has registered 16 FIRs across the district and destroyed illegal poppy cultivation spread over approximately 150 marlas of land.
Acting on reliable information, Police Post Sangam detected illegal cultivation of opium poppy at the residence of Bashir Ahmad Wani of Check Panjpora. During the search, poppy plants were found growing within the compound, and dried poppy straw (Fukki) was also recovered from inside the house. Accordingly, FIR No. 108/2026 under relevant sections of the NDPS Act has been registered at Police Station Bijbehara, and investigation is underway.
In another operation, Police Station Kokernag, along with officials from the Revenue and Agriculture Departments, conducted a joint raid at Hargam Sagam, where two individuals were found cultivating poppy on approximately 02 marlas of land. The crop was destroyed on the spot, and FIR No. 29/2026 under the NDPS Act has been registered.
Police Station Utrasoo, in coordination with the Executive Magistrate and Agriculture Department, also destroyed illegal poppy cultivation in village Shergund. In this connection, FIR No. 41/2026 has been registered.
Further, Police Station Bijbehara registered four FIRs (Nos. 104, 105, 106, and 107/2026) under relevant sections of the NDPS Act following reports of illegal cultivation of poppy straw and cannabis in the Verri area.
Moreover, Police Station Srigufwara, along with Revenue and Agriculture officials, carried out a major operation in Khiram, Shirhama, and Nowshera villages, where illegal poppy cultivation spread over a significant area was detected and destroyed on the spot. In this regard, 09 FIRs have been registered.
Anantnag Police reiterates its firm commitment to eradicating the menace of drug cultivation and appeals to the general public to cooperate and share information regarding such illegal activities.
