Kashmir government officials destroy an illegally cultivated poppy patch on August 15, 2014 in Krale- Chak 45 km west of Srinagar, the summer capital...
{"Image ImageDescription": "KRALE-CHAK, KASHMIR, INDIA - JUNE 15:  Kashmir government officials destroy an illegally cultivated poppy patch on August 15, 2014 in Krale- Chak  45 km (28 miles) west of Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian administered Kashmir, India.  Despite a ban, opium cultivation in Kashmir has shown significant increase over the past few years according to Excise and Taxation officials. Large swathes of land are coming under cultivation with derivatives mostly landing with drug and narcotic suppliers across India. Every year government officials clear such plantations, but opium cultivation in Kashmir has shown significant increase over the past few years according to Excise and Taxation officials. The cultivation is mostly used to derive Fukhi, a powered form of the poppy husk that is in great demand in the Indian Northern state of Punjab. Officials confiscate hundreds of kilograms of such substance yearly from offenders. A kilogram of such poppy husk sells for $ 16 - 25 (1000-1500 INR) in the local markets and the cultivation of poppies is banned under the law. (Photo by Yawar Nazir/ Getty Images)", "Image Copyright": "2015 Yawar Nazir"}