Village chief summoned in poppy cultivation case
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, August 29 2022:
Following strong instructions given by chief minister N Biren against illegal poppy cultivation in hill areas of the state during a meeting held earlier this month, police have summoned Ngamthang Haokip, chief of S Gelbung village under Sangaikot police station in Churachandpur district to come to the PS.
The summon letter served by OC of Sangaikot PS mentioned that they have come to learn about new poppy cultivation in areas under the jurisdiction of S Gelbung village during a technical survey conducted by using satellite mapping and drone of Manipur Remote Sensing Application Centre (MARSAC).
The OC has instructed the village chief to appear before him on September 1 at 11 am, while cautioning that legal actions will be initiated against the village chief if he fails to come.
Mention may be made here that during a high-level meeting on War on Drugs with DGP Manipur and senior officials of police and NAB held on August 22, CM Biren said that August/Septem-ber is considered the prime season for sowing poppy seeds and accordingly government has been keenly monitoring poppy plantation like never before.
While stating that specific information has been received about fresh plantation of poppy in 5/6 villages, the CM instructed police and NAB personnel to arrest chiefs of the said villages and initiate legal action against them.
Consequently, the police department along with NAB officials started technical survey of poppy plantation sites with support from MARSAC's satellite mapping and drone technologies.