Poppy plantation at Nongmaiching destroyed
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, January 18 2010: A combined team of personnel of Narcotic and Border Affairs and security forces launched a poppy plantation elimination drive at Nongmaiching hill in Senapati district bordering Imphal East District from today.

Mention may be made that All Manipur Anti-Drug Association, Imphal East branch had through the media reported the mass scale cultivation of poppy plants, whose fruit is used in the manufacture of Heroin (No.4), recently after its volunteers visited the areas where the plants are being grown.

Today, the combined team under the supervision of Narcotic and Border Affairs SP Amirlal Sharma conducted the drive at Terakhong and Heikon villages of Nongmaiching and destroyed poppy plants growing in around six sangam.

Flowers of drug: Poppy plants in full bloom

The two villages is inhabitant by around 320 heads and even though the area is under Senapati district, Imphal east district police cover part of it.

Before the security personnel commenced the destruction drive, volunteers of AMADA who were there for convincing the villagers not to engage in the growing of such dangerous plants, faced steep opposition from the villagers.

Villagers accused the AMADA volunteers of coming with security and police personnel which was strongly denied by AMADA.

The combined team arrived there while AMADA volunteers were holding consultation with village chiefs and authorities for destruction of the poppy plantation.

Later, villagers arrived at an agreement with the combined team who convinced the villagers that they will also extend help in AMADA's offer to assist them to cultivate food crops after the elimination of poppy plants.Earlier, AMADA assured the villagers that they will extend all kinds of help to the villagers in availing food crops from the state agriculture departments, according to the general secretary of AMADA, Imphal east, Ph Phony.

He further observed that all sections should co-operate in the drive of the Narcotic and Border Affairs and the body will be on the lookout for other places where poppy plants are grow.

Chief in-charge of Terakhong village, Pao Baite and secretary of Heikon village L Apao revealed that the villagers have cultivated poppy plants in about six sangams of area around the villages.

They have started the cultivation work two years back.

Last year, they produced about a kilogram of opium (product of poppy plant) which was sold at rate of Rs 30,000 per kg.

They can produce 1 kg of opium per sangam.

The products were bought by people living in Imphal areas."We know that growing poppy is illegal," they said adding that, however, destroying the poppy plantation will amount to cutting off their means of livelihood.The drive of destroying the poppy plantation could not be completed today.

The drive is likely to continue further.