50 acres of poppies destroyed, mob attacks security vehicles
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 31 2025: A joint security team consisting of Kangpokpi district police and CRPF, led by additional SP and SDC Saikul, encountered fierce resistance from villagers of Lhungjang hill range under Saikul police station on Friday, while carrying out a drive to decimate illegal poppy plantations.

The mob, consisting of men and women, some of who are suspected to be involved in poppy farming, vandalised four vehicles of the security team before their dispersal.

Despite the confrontation, the security team continued their operation, destroying poppy plants spread over approximately 45 acres and setting ablaze four huts used by the cultivators.

50 acres of poppies destroyed, mob attacks security vehicles

According to police sources, the joint security team reached Lhungjang hill range around 8 am after covering a distance of 13 km southwest of Saikul police station on foot.

However, upon arrival, they were met with strong resistance from a large group of locals.

The mob resorted to vandalising four vehicles belonging to the security personnel.

In response, the security forces dispersed the gathering and proceeded with their mission.

The poppy destruction operation continued till 4 pm, leading to the destruction of poppy plantations spread over an area of around 45 acres and the burning of four makeshift huts allegedly used for cultivation activities.

In a parallel operation on the same day, Noney district police led by SP along with DSP, OC of Noney PS, and a combined forest team from Noney and Tamenglong districts, carried out a similar destruction drive in the hill range of Nurathel village, approximately 18 km north of Noney police station.

During the drive, the team destroyed around 4.49 acres of illegal poppy plantations.

No arrests were made in connection with the operation.

Mention may be made that similar poppy destruction drives were carried out in various parts of the state throughout January.

On January 24, a joint team of police, CRPF, and forest department launched operation against illegal poppy cultivation in the hills of Lhungjang village under Saikul police station in Kangpokpi district.

During the operation, approximately 35 acres of illicit poppy plantations were destroyed.

On January 23, a combined team of Churachandpur district police, DFO Churachandpur, and central forces conducted a poppy destruction drive in the Siden Changpikot area within the Dampi Reserved Forest under Sangaikot police station in Churachand pur district.

The team successfully cleared around 12 acres of illegal poppy cultivation.

Earlier, on January 18, a joint team of police and central forces conducted a similar drive in the hill range of Y Langkhong village, also under Saikul police station.

The operation resulted in the destruction of approximately 26 acres of illegal poppy plantations.

On January 15, another joint team comprising police, Assam Rifles, and forest department conducted a poppy destruction operation in the Haopi Mollen hill range under Sangaikot police station in Churachandpur district, decimating total of 4.8 acres of poppy fields, and recovering six poppy pods.

The largest destruction of poppy plants took place on January 10, when a combined team of police, 18 Assam Rifles, and forest department destroyed 90 acres of illegal poppy cultivation in the Phalee hill range under Lungchong Maiphei police station in Ukhrul district.

The team also burned down 12 huts.

On January 8, a joint team of police, 37 Assam Rifles, and forest department carried out a similar poppy destruction operation in Haopi Mollen hill range under Sangaikot police station in Churachandpur district.

The team destroyed around 4 acres of illegal poppy plantations and seized 10 poppy pods.

With the increasing crackdown on illicit poppy farming across the state, law enforcement agencies continue their efforts to curb illegal cultivation and identify those involved.

Illegal poppy cultivation has been a main factor for deforestation, environment degradation, climate change and illicit drug trafficking in the state for the past several years.

The India State of Forest, Report (ISFR) 2023 revealed a concerning decline in Ma nipur's forest health, presenting a stark contrast to the national trend of increasing green cover.

Over the past decade, the state has lost 375.70 sq km of its forest cover, shrinking from 16,961.16 sq km in 2013 to 16,585.46 sq km in 2023.Comparing to the last survey in 2021 (ISFR 2021), the state has seen a net reduction of 54.83 sq km.

There is growing evidence that such plantations, which are often located deep within forested areas, may be contributing to the rise in fire incidents.

This is evident from the forest fire mapping shown in the ISFR 2023 as most of the forest fire are concentrated in poppy cultivation areas.

Farmers engaged in illegal poppy cultivation reportedly use fire as a tool to clear land.