Village chiefs sign undertaking not to plant poppies
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 02 2022:
After it was reported that some areas in Sangaikot sub-division of Churachandpur district were found engaging in poppy cultivation when Manipur Remote Sensing Applications Centre (MARSAC) conducted satellite mapping and technical survey with use pf drone, Sangaikot police station's officer in-charge had on August 29 summoned the chiefs of the villages concerned for coming to the PS within 11 am of September 1.Accordingly, the chiefs of 12 different villages came to Sangaikot PS on Thursday and signed an undertaking not to engage in poppy plantation.
As per sources, the chiefs talked with Sangaikot PS officer in-charge Thangpu Kipgen on Thursday, wherein the officer enquired about the illegal poppy plantation in the area, as was found out by the technical survey.
In response, the chiefs stated that they were aware of the government's 'War on Drugs' campaign and denied the presence of any poppy plantations in their respective villages.
They said that technical survey report may have suspected the ordinary plants to be poppies and contended that no poppy plantation is allowed in the area other than ordinary crops.
As such, the chiefs signed an undertaking stating that if any poppy plantation is found in the area, they would be held responsible for the consequences.
One of the village chiefs, Ngamthang Haokip of S Gelbung village conveyed that the officer in-charge informed them of the illegality of planting poppies and the resulting consequences.
As of now, no one is engaged in poppy plantation in any of the villages and is only under suspicion.
Anyone found planting poppies will be liable for legal action from the PS,
he added.