Three booked for cultivating poppy crop

Tribune News Service
Patiala, April 16

The Police have booked three farmers for cultivating poppy in their fields.

The police have arrested Mehtab Singh, a resident Dhanetha village (Samana block), and his labourer Bittu Singh for allegedly growing poppy crop. 

The cops said after receiving a tip-off they raided the farm and recovered 20- kg poppy plant.

 The accused have been booked under Sections 15, 18/61/85 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. As per the Act, cultivation of poppy crop is banned in Punjab. 

Samana Sadar SHO said, “The CIA Samana has arrested the accused and registered the case under the NDPS Act.”

In another incident, Mukhityar Singh of Aachal village  was booked for allegedly growing 3.5-kg poppy.

Nabha Sadar SHO said, “We have registered a case and investigation is underway. The accused is on run. We will arrest him soon.”

It is pertinent to mention that members of various farmer organisations had announced that they would vote for that candidate in the 2019 General Election who would support to legalise poppy cultivation in the state.

Patiala MP Dharamvira Gandhi has also been demanding to make an amendment in the NDPS Act, 1985, to legalise poppy cultivation in Punjab. 

He had also moved a Private Member’s Bill in the Parliament two years ago in order to legalise cultivation of traditional drugs.

He said, “Instead of catching big smugglers, the government is out to arrest the poor farmers. It is a matter of shame that farmers are being put behind bars for cultivating traditional drugs.”