SRINAGAR, July 18 -- Stepping up the war on drugs, police have launched a major drive to destroy wild cannabis (commonly known as Bhung in Anantnag and Ganderbal districts.

Police destroyed the crops along the riverbanks in Sangam, Marhama, and Waghama. The operation was a joint effort by the Excise Department, local police, and the 90th Battalion CRPF. The teams thoroughly cleared the identified hotspots and also engaged with residents, encouraging them to support efforts to eradicate illegal cannabis growth and to report any new instances of cultivation.

In Ganderbal, the police, along with officials from the Revenue and Excise Departments, conducted a large-scale destruction drive in Takanwari and surrounding areas under the jurisdic...