Destruction of poppy plantations continues across state, two arrested
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 22 2023: Continuing the operations against poppy cultivation, the state's Forest Department in coordination with other law enforcing agencies conducted another special drive against poppy plantations in the forest areas on January 20 and 21 .

On Friday, poppy plants found growing in around 25 hectares in Teising, Thangjing hill of Churachandpur Khoupum Protected Forests were destroyed by a joint team of Churachandpur forest division, Churachandpur police, NAB, 1st IRB and 2nd IRB.

An FIR case has been registered accordingly.

Similarly, Kangpokpi forest division, Senapati forest division and Kangpokpi police destroyed poppy plants that were found growing in around 16 hectares of land in T Khonomphai village area under Champhai sub-division, Kangchup Leimakhong Irang protected forest.

Kangpokpi forest division, central forest division and district police also destroyed poppy plantations in around 3 hectares in Aigejang village area in Khamenlok Gwaltabi reserved forest under Kangpokpi forest division.

One Jamthang Haokip (54), son of late Jamkhotong Haokip of Lhangsom village under Saikul police station, Kangpokpi was arrested for illegal poppy cultivation based on an FIR filed in connection with poppy destruction operation conducted on January 17 and 18.Further, poppy plants found growing in around 1 acre of land in unclassed forest area of Longpi village under Noney forest division were destroyed by a joint team of Noney forest division, district police, 39 Assam Rifles and Rongmei Naga Students' Organisation.

An FIR case has been registered and one Thangnetzar Gangte of Longpi village arrested in this connection.

On Saturday, a joint team of Kangpokpi forest division, Senapati forest division and district police Kangpokpi destroyed poppy plants in around 15 hectares in the hill ranges of T Khonomphai, under Kangchup Leimakhong Irang Protected Forest, Champhai sub division of Kangpokpi district.

Kangpokpi forest division and district police Kangpokpi also destroyed poppy plants that were found growing in around 11 hectares in Puleijang village under Imphal Iril Protected Forest, Kangpoki.

An FIR has been registered in this regard.

A combined team of Churachandpur forest division, Churachandpur district police, 1st IRB, 2nd IRB, NAB in the presence of assistant narcotics commissioner of Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) destroyed poppy plants in around 60 hectares of un classed forest in Haopi Molten village, and an FIR registered accordingly.

At the same time, Phungcham youth volunteers led by Phungchum village headman along with Ukhrul forest division Ukhrul district police destroyed poppy plants in around 20 hectares of land in Phungcham village area under Ukhrul forest division.

During these operations, a total area of 195.805 hectares of poppy plantation was destroyed.

Huts and articles used in cultivation of poppy such as fertilisers, salt packets, herbicides were burnt and destroyed.

In all, 471.665 hectares of poppy plantation have been destroyed since January 16.Tengnoupal district police and forest officials also destroyed 70 acres of poppy cultivation at SL Zougam village hill range in Tengnoupal district on Saturday.

According to police report, Tengnoupal district additional SP (L/O) O Sukumar Singh, Machi police station OC inspector S Ibotombi and Tengnoupal SDC/BO Ksh Roshanjit along with Tengnoupal Reserve Line, district commando and forest division officials took part in the poppy destruction drive along the SL Zougam village hill range starting from around 11 am.

Meanwhile, poppy plantations in over 120 hectares across 11 villages in Chandel district have been destroyed in addition to burning down of 30 huts used by the cultivators during the last 10 days.

According to a release issued by Chandel ACF N Mu-nal Meitei, poppy destruction drives were carried out in 11 villages of Chandel district by a combined team of forest department, police and NAB after a team led by CAF&PD minister L Susindro conducted aerial survey on January 12 and pinpointed the plantation areas.

The destroyed poppies could have fetched around 2500 kg of opium.

From among the 13 villages identified during the aerial survey, Lhangpikot and Leijang villages have stopped poppy cultivation for the last 2/3 years.

However, the Phaisi area has widespread poppy plantations and it would require a large force and ample time to conduct the destruction of poppy plants in the area.

While expressing apprehension over the manner in which poppy cultivations are being carried out far and wide in the hills of the state, the release pointed out the state will face acute shortage of water in the near future.

Moreover, as salt and other chemicals are used in huge quantities for planting poppies, the area will be unfit for growth of trees for quite some time.

Therefore, if the poppy cultivations in the hills of the state are not prevented Manipur would be turned into a desert very soon.

The release also pointed out that now is the right time to destroy poppies as the time for harvesting pop pies is nearing.

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