TheLudhiana Rural Police has arrested a man for allegedly sowing the banned substance poppy opium in his house. A man named Mohammad Hoof from the Village Gujjarwal Jodhanarea was arrested with 190 saplings.
LudhianaRural SSP Patil Ketan Baliram said in a statement that a raid was conducted atMohammad Hoof's residence after a tip-off. Upon checking, 190 saplings of opiumwere found sown on his terrace which was confiscated and the man was arrested.FIR under Sections 16/61/85 NDPS Act was registered at Jodhan Police Stationagainst the culprit, The SSP added.
This has started a new discourse that should opium plantation be legalized in Punjab as in a few other states it's already legal under a license.
Over theperiod, many politicians have demanded the legalization of Opium plantations inPunjab to improve the financial health of the farmers.
In the year2018, at Famous Chhapar Mela, Then AAP MP from Patiala and now a socialactivist Dr. Dharamvir Gandhi planted Opium along with some farmers as a mark ofprotest and a DDR Written against him. Though no case was registered as a stepwas just a mark of protest and quantity was not commercial.
Althoughopium plantation is prohibited under section 8 of NDPS act 1985 it is allowedunder a license in some areas in neighboringRajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh but is illegal in Punjab for reasonsunknown.