Another 15 Ha of poppy plantations destroyed at Kpi dist
Cases against cultivators, village chiefs lodged
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 20 2023: Continuing the renewed operation against poppy cultivations, police and Forest officials destroyed another 15 hectares of poppy cultivation at T Khonomphai under Kangchup Leimakhong Irang Protected Forest in Kangpokpi district while another team of police and Forest staff surveyed the hill ranges of Leijang village under Chandel Forest Division, yesterday.

The District Information Officer of Kangpokpi however reported that a team comprising of men from the district police of Imphal East and Kangpokpi destroyed 13 hectares of poppy cultivation at T Khonomphai hill range in Champhai subdivision in Kangpokpi district today (Jan 20) and 8 hectares at the same range on January 19 .

The drive at Khonomphai was carried out by a joint team of Kangpokpi police and officials of Senapati and Kangpokpi Forest Division while the survey at Leijang village was done by district police of Chandel, Thoubal, Kakching and NAB and Forest officials, said a press release issued by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Head of Forest Force Dr AK Joshi.

He said that no poppy cultivation was found at Leijang village during the survey other than indications of such plantations taking place at some sites in the past.

As per the PCCF, 105.21 hectares of poppy plantations were destroyed on Jan 18 and 19 .

On January 18, poppies grown on 40 hectares of land at Teising, Churachandpur, 18.21 hectares at Lhangsom Village, Kangpokpi and 32 hectares at Phaisi Village in Chandel were destroyed.

Saying that they have destroyed 275.21 hectares of poppy plantations since January 16 last and burnt a number of huts and articles used in cultivation of poppies such as salt packets, fertilizers, herbicides etc, Dr AK Joshi maintained that they will carry similar operations in other Forest Divisions and book all responsible persons.

He reminded that cases have already been registered against eight persons for planting poppies and they include village chiefs and cultivators.

Further stating that poppy cultivation and use of forest land for non-forest purposes are against the law, Dr AK Joshi continued that poppy plantation of notified forest areas is a clear violation of the Acts/Rules governing the forests.

The PCCF appealed to all village chiefs and people to not plant poppies and support the War on Drugs campaign of the State Government.

Meanwhile in a Facebook post, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that another poppy grower has been arrested from Longpi Village, today.

The alleged poppy planter, according, to the post, has been identified as Thangnetzar Gangte (24 yrs) s/o Siekpu Gangte of Longpi village.

He was arrested by a team of Nungba police.

The drive was jointly carried out by Noney police and officials of Noney Forest Division, SDO Nungba, 39 Assam Rifles and volunteers of Rongmei Naga Students Organization Manipur.

At least one acre of poppy plantation was destroyed as per the post.

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