BAJAUR: The police destroyed poppy crop cultivated on a vast area in a remote village of Barang tehsil here on Sunday.

According to a statement issued from the office of the district police officer, poppy crop was cultivated in hilly Asil Targoo area.

The local farmers, who had earlier refused to destroy the poppy voluntarily, agreed to let the police destroy it after holding talks with an officials’ team led by Barang tehsildar Abdul Wakeel Khan.

The statement said a large area was cleared of poppy crop during the operation led by DSP Abdul Aziz Khan.

The farmers said they allowed the police to destroy the poppy crop after the district administration officials promised to provide them with basic facilities.

The farmers said the village was the most backward in Barang tehsil.

The area people said poppy crop was cultivated in the region after a gap of three years.

LAID TO REST: Assistant Sub-Inspector Bakhatzada, who was martyred in a blast on Saturday evening, was laid to rest in his native area on Sunday.

According to a statement issued from the DPO office, Bakhatzada was martyred in a remote-controlled blast in Barkholozo area of Mamond tehsil.

The statement said the deceased, 57, was laid to rest in his native Barkholozo area after his funeral prayers, which were held at the Bajaur Police Lines in Civil Colony, Khar, on Saturday night.

Senior officials of the district administration, police and security forces and elders attended the funeral.

The statement said that constable Ihsanullah, who was injured in the blast, was admitted to a hospital in Khar.

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2024