DGP leads in destroying poppy plants, village chief held
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 23 2022: A joint team of police, IRB, MR and NAB led by DGP P Doungel destroyed poppy plants and burned several farmhouses in and around Selsi village in Kangpokpi district on Friday.

Similar operations were also carried out in different districts leading to arrest of a village chief in Churachandpur district.

Police source said that the joint team was led by DGP LM Khaute, ADGP (LO) L Kailun, IGP (Zone-I) Themthing Ngashangva, SP NAB K Meghachandra, 4th IRB commandant Lokhomao, and 5th IRB commandant Amang Haokip.

Apart from police, NAB and IRB personnel, the team also included personnel of 1st and 2nd Manipur Rifles, Kangpokpi district police and around 200 police constable recruits from Manipur Police Training College, Pangei.

The team destroyed vast area of illegally planted poppy plants on the western hillside of Selsi village.

However, the source did not mention the approximate size of the area of the illegal farm.

Seven nuts used for keeping materials used in poppy cultivation including fertilisers, salt packets and herbicides along with other items were torched.

A case has been registered at Kangpokpi police station and some accused involved in the plantation also identified.

They will be arrested shortly, the police source said.

On the other hand, a strong team of Churachandpur district police and 1st IRB led by SP CCpur Shivanand Surve, 1st IRB commandant Lunkhomang Khongsai, SDO (Tuibong) Jangmmlen Lupho and OC of Churachandpur police station inspector N Thangzamuan destroyed illegal poppy plants which were found growing in an area of around 65 acres along the hill range of Thinghangjang village.

Police source said that the joint security team went to the village on Friday around 8.50 am on receiving information of large-scale poppy plantations.

Monetary value of the poppy plants that the joint team destroyed during the drive is estimated to be around Rs 3.90 crore.

They also collected 10 matured poppy stems with pods as exhibits from the spot after preparing seizure memo.

The task was completed by around 2.30 pm and chief of Thinghangjang village namely Kamkhosei Haokip (48) son of late Otjathang Haokip was later arrested from Songpi village for facilitating the poppy cultivation within his village land.

A suo moto case under ND&PS Act has been registered for further investigation.

At the same time, a joint team of Ukhrul district police, 6th MR, NAB and forest department carried out destruction of poppy cultivated areas in Ukhrul during the current month at different locations.

The joint team destroyed poppy plants found cultivated in over 20 acres on Ringui (Tungou) hill range on December 3 and 7; over 20 acres on Champhung hill range on December 14 & 15; over 40 acres on Champhung-Tora hill range on December 20 and 22.None of the poppy cultivators were found at the time of the drive.

However, a few individuals, who were earlier residing along the hill range of Champhung-Tora have been identified.

Details of the land owners of the hill range were collected and verification of the same is going on.

Kangpokpi district police along with NAB, forest department, Assam Rifles and SDO Kangpokpi also destroyed around 10 acres of illicit poppy cultivation along Molkon and Phulaijang hill ranges under Saikul PS on Friday.

The joint team is planning to carry out further drives in adjoining areas in the days to come.

FIR has been registered and efforts are on to arrest the cultivators/land owners.

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