A senior police officer admitted that the supply of poppy husk in almost all villages of Punjab was high during the harvesting season. “The government needs to educate the youths about the harms of drugs,” he added.

Earlier last month, Punjab Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal had also promised to curb this menace and the state government had formed a special anti-narcotics wing headed by an IG-level officer.

However, Patiala SP(D) Gurdeep Singh Pannu said, “It could be possible that the drug is available in villages in the harvesting season, but we keep conducting raids. I will ask my officers to be more vigilant.”

Fatehgarh Sahib SSP Kaustabh Sharma said that he was not aware that such big quantities of poppy husk were available in villages. “I will certainly look into the matter,” he added.