Surveys on to locate poppy plantations: NAB SP
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 30 2022: Informing that surveys are being conducted at possible poppy plantation sites through satellite mapping; Narcotics and Affairs of Border (NAB) SP K Meghachandra has made it clear that anyone found planting poppies will be punished strictly as per the law of the land.

Addressing a press meet held at the conference hall of SP Imphal West here on Tuesday, Meghachandra said that War on Drugs 2.0 commenced from March 20 this year.

Under the aegis of the Chief Minister, the DGP and senior officers have been investigating the cases one-by-one in a detailed manner and as such, the number of chargesheets filed has increased.

Monitoring teams are working at the district and state levels and the number of disposed cases is also on the rise, with ease in producing the accused people or those involved in bribery, he stated, and urged the people not to hesitate but extend cooperation by providing vital information and becoming witnesses in the related cases.

The SP then said that as part of the steps to prevent and discourage poppy plantations, CSOs and village chiefs have been consulted with and informed of the negative impacts as well as legal repercussions.

With regard to War on Drugs 2.0 campaign, satellite mapping is being used to locate poppy plantations and surveys are being carried out in the areas in addition to summoning the village chiefs of the area, he conveyed.

Staring from August, inspections are being carried out at previous sites of poppy plantations.

If anyone is found replanting the poppies even after talks at the CSO level and with village chiefs, he/she would be liable for stringent punishment.

If the village chief is found withholding information of the same, action would be initiated against the chief under Section 48 of NDPS Act.

Furthermore, any attempt to replant poppies will be considered to be the same as planting the poppies and would be punished under Section 28 of the NDPS Act, SP Meghachandra informed while urging the people for cooperating in the endeavour to make Manipur a drug free society.

Meanwhile, a combined team of Ukhrul Police and NAB conducted a survey at Mapithel Hill range on Monday and found that around 30-35 acres of forest area had been cleared.

The team also found 150 bags of salt, 70 bags of Diamond fertiliser, 20 bags of urea and 7 bags of poppy seeds hidden in a small hut.

The team burnt the items but was unable to apprehend the person(s) who were planning to plant poppies in the area.

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