WoD: CM commends police, public; warns SoO groups
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, February 25 2023: Chief minister N Biren has appreciated the efforts of state police in building cordial relationship with the public while warning armed groups, which are signatories to the Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact, not to involve in drug trades.

He made the remark while responding to policy cut motions raised by Congress members K Ranjit, Th Lokeshwar and Okram Surjakumar during the discussion on demand for grants of police and fire service in the state assembly session on Saturday.

In his response, the CM said that the War on Drugs (WoD) is not a mere mission of the government but to save the future of the state and its people.

He informed the House that some people arrested with drugs confessed to police about tax collected by SoO groups for carrying out the illegal drug trafficking.

The identities of those UG cadres have been established and transferred the case to NIA.

At the same time, chief of T Waichong village, who was arrested in connection with illegal poppy cultivation, also confessed that KRA funded the illegal activity.

Taking serious note of the finding, the CM said that the government will not compromise under any circumstances when it comes to fighting the drug menace.

His government will withdraw the SoO agreement if the situation merits since SoO is not above the safety and fate of the state and its people, he said.

He also stated that the government had made its stand clear on the issue to the Centre too.

Biren further informed that the government's initiative to identify poppy plantations and decimation of the plants by spraying herbicides is bearing fruit.

Police are destroying poppy plants even in the remotest parts of the hill areas of Tamenglong, Ukhrul and some other districts.

As a result, poppy farmers will not be able to harvest more than 10 per cent of the total poppy plantations across the state, the CM said and thanked the public for their cooperation in making it possible.

He said that once the 34 outposts in border areas are established, around 90 per cent of cross border drug trafficking could be prevented.

As for the villagers involved in poppy plantations, who voluntarily come forward to destroy the plants, the government will provide alternative livelihood.

However, it is unfortunate that some are resorting to protest rally demanding alternative livelihood means as if they are threatening to cultivate poison in demand of alternative livelihood.

While the government is exploring possibilities for alternative livelihood means, it cannot accept such unwarranted conditions, he affirmed.

Biren said the government is taking up initiatives for promoting sericulture projects in association with Japanese company ZIKA for providing alternative livelihood to these people.

The CM conceded that the government is facing several disturbances in its War on Drugs mission.

One cannot rule out involvement of big cartels in this illegal trade.

So far, the government has busted 19 illegal drug processing units in the state since 2020 .

The large scale illegal poppy plantation is a relatively new issue though there were isolated cases in the past.

This is an organised act and there are reports of involvement of illegal immigrants in such illegal practices.

Numerous unaccounted villages are cropping up in some districts.

The number is significantly high in some districts, with around 200 to 500 unaccounted villages springing up in the past few years, which is not normal growth of population.

His government has initiated an Aadhaar verification drive to identify illegal immigrants, he elaborated.

Biren further told the House that there are UG groups for almost every community in the state.

Despite sporadic cases of disturbances in law and order situation, the state police have been putting in efforts to build better relationship with the public since his government came to power.

Police force is the backbone of the government and police discipline is crucial in building a positive image of not only the police department but also of the government.

As a result of the relentless efforts, the state police, right from the lower ranks to the top, have become public oriented and disciplined today.

Even an old woman no longer feels fear on seeing police commandos, unlike in the past, he said.

The chief minister also said that the police force, despite the limited resources and manpower, is carrying out their duties to safeguard public life and properties.

They are carrying out night patrols and even guarding border areas.

Outposts in border areas are doing their duties well.

In order to keep the police force fit and their morale high, every unit carries out physical exercise in the morning and the government is also providing fitness equipment as and when required.

Due to the improved relationship between police and public, the process of identifying criminals is becoming easier as public often come forward to give valuable information to the police.

In the past, public used feel insecurity at the mere sight of police.

As a result, it affected administration as well as law and order situation.

However, those days are long gone, he said while appreciating the efforts of police force in building good relationship with the public.

Speaking about boundary row with Myanmar, the CM said that the present dispute is in Kwatha area only and the government is looking into the matter.

As for other areas, public should know that a stretch of 2 km is reserved as No Man's Land in the border.

The issue of border dispute has been apprised to the Centre and a central team had already visited the state to assess the situation.

One cannot simply shift the border pillars undetected since satellite mapping can easily identify the anomalies, he said and added that boundary fencing works have been kept on hold in the disputed areas.

Biren further told the House that the government will release the additional month's salary for police personnel before the Yaoshang festival.

Transfer and posting process has also been regulated under which personnel will be posted in one location for two years before transferring to another.

Some personnel might have missed the pol icy due to one or another reason but his government will identify those personnel and do the needful.

He also confided that elected representatives receive pressure in connection with the transfer and posting, and appealed to all concerned to refrain from such acts.

The CM also emphasised on the need for eradicating corruption and told the House that his government had begun transparent and fair recruitment processes not only in police and teachers but also in all the departments.

All recruitment results will be declared as soon as possible and no appointment will be made if there is no vacancy, he announced.

While moving the motion, MLA K Ranjit pointed out that there are boundary disputes in Tungvai Molchang River area (BP 64 to 68), Tamu-Moreh area (BP 75 to 79), Choro Khunou area (BP 88 to 95), Holenphai area (BP 73 to 75), Kwatha Khunou area (BP 82 to 83), and told the House that these are reported by local elders, who are well aware of the traditional boundary of the state.

Border fencing works seem stop only for a while when CSOs and local people bring up the issue in the public domain.

However, the work resumes after a short break once the hue and cry of the public subsides.

A report in the Poknapham daily in its June 23, 2022 issue said that UCM suspended its stir following CM's assurance to stop border fencing.

However, the same newspaper carried another report stating that border fencing works are continuing in the disputed areas, the MLA pointed out.

He recalled how the BJP government, in its formative period, drew flak from the public with regard to the boundary dispute in BP 81 areas.

At that time, the Surveyor General of India came along with an official team of Survey of India.

The central team along with representatives of all political parties and CSOs visited Kwatha, during which the official team accepted the dispute only to deny it when they returned to New Delhi, he counted and drew attention of the House to take advantage of having double engine government and resolve the boundary dispute.

In response, the CM said that border fencing is constructed only for 10.23 km in undisputed areas.

The only disputed area is a portion of only 300 metres.

His government did stop the border fencing after which a central team visited the area.

The central team along with Myanmarese officials and state officials assessed the situation and continued the border fencing except for the disputed 300 metres stretch, he said.

Biren also told the House that his government will not compromise the boundary etched by the forefathers.

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