SP Victoria exhorts villagers to cease poppy cultivation
Source: Chronicle News Service

Kakching, October 31 2021: Kakching district police led by its' SP Victoria Yengkhom has been able to successfully prevail upon villagers not to destroy forest and indulge in poppy plantation with the proactive in volvement of chiefs of hill villages.

In what could be termed fruit of the endeavour, the earlier protracted practice of widespread poppy cultivation at Sanathong hill range located east of New Chayang village under Waikhong police station has ceased this year.

On January 30, 2020, a joint team of the district police, NCB, NAB Imphal and Forest Department led by Victoria had visited this place and destroyed vast tract of poppy plantation and had asked the New Chayang village chief and Village Authority not to allow such plantation.

SP Victoria accompanied by additional SPs Yumnam Joyraj and Athokpam Romendro, SDPO (Kakching/Sugnu) Konjengbam Gitchandra, Waikhong police station OC Philem Bulbul, CDO Kakching OC Md Abas Khan and New Chayang village chief Leivon Kamnong went to the said hill range on Saturday.

She recalled that during their January visit the police team conducted an aware--ness programme and advised the locals to choose alternative means of livelihood while stressing the need for conservation of forest and commended the village chief for extending cooperation towards stopping poppy plantation and drugs in the village.

Expressing elation that the joint effort has been helpful in the gradual transformation the then poppy fields into natural forest, the officer also pledged that Kakching police will continue to work with village leaders, club/organisation to stop the menace of drugs.

According to New Chayang village chief Leivon Kamnong, as per the directive of Kakching police a meeting of New Chayang villagers resolved to stop poppy plantation in the village area.

A person who defied the collective stand of, the village was punished under customary law, he informed.

As part of Saturday's visit, a meeting was held at New Chayang village community hall with the villagers during which SP Victoria presented certificate of appreciation, cash prize, traditional cloth and wall clock to Leivon Kamnong in acknowledgment of his work for stopping poppy cultivation in the village.

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