Manpower shortage hindering anti-poppy drive
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 14 2023:
As the government is intensifying its War on Drugs campaign, especially against poppy plantations consequent to detection of vast tract of land under poppy cultivation in remote hill areas of the state, the need for strengthening police force and improving police infrastructure in the hill areas has been felt.
According to police officers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, they are facing manpower shortage in tracing and destroying the poppy plants.
All they could do is to identify pop py plantations using drones or binoculars and carry out destruction works physically.
However, the destruction of poppy plants also has its own limitations due to shortage of manpower and inaccessibility due to unfriendly terrain condition.
Often, handful of police personnel deployed in the hill areas is not enough to fight the menace.
Besides, they are not equipped with offroad vehicles, which can be used in,the difficult hilly terrains let alone lack of other weapons and equipment.
There is the constant need for strengthening police force and improving their infrastructure in order to carry out the war on drugs campaign effectively, the police officers said.
Meanwhile, the government's war on drugs campaign is gaining support from the public as the common people are coming out in large number and volunteering in destroying the poppy plants.
On Saturday, a large number of local residents of Liangmai Naga and Nepali community under the leadership of SP Kangpokpi Th Vikramjit destroyed illegal poppy plants in an area under the jurisdiction of Chawang Kining village on Koubru Hill range, Kangpokpi district.
Apart from the SP, the team consisted of ASP (Ops) Abdul Kalam, Kangpokpi PS OC inspector Sunilkumar, NAB personnel, forest officials, members & volunteers of Liangmai Naga Council Eastern Zone, Ahangruak Chiefs Chairmen Association and Pourel Basti.
The team also burnt down five makeshift farmhouses and seized several pumps and chemicals used in the illegal farming.
SP Vikramjit thanked the local residents for their support in the operation and urged for their continued cooperation.
Ahangruak Liangmai Chiefs Chairmen Association president and Chawangkining village chief Ch Wisobou said that the area where the illegal poppy cultivation was found carried out belongs to Chawangkining village for ages.
However, residents of neighbouring villages Sehjang and Khollen in collusion with some SoO groups carried out the illegal practice by force.
Liangmai Naga people in Kangpokpi never support or encourage any forms of drugs.
They are participating in the operation as a mark of keeping their promise to stand against poppy cultivation and they will continue to participate in such operations, he added.