Drive against poppy plantations intensifies
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 30 2022: Intensifying drive against poppy plantation, different teams of Manipur police along with other forces destroyed illegal poppy plantation spread over 229 acres while three village chiefs of Churachandpur came out voluntarily and joined the poppy decimation drive along with villagers.

According to a statement of PRO Manipur police department, Churachandpur district police conducted an interaction session with village chiefs to stop poppy plantation in the district on Thursday.

The meet yielded positive result as some village chiefs along with the villagers came out voluntarily on Friday and destroyed illegal poppy they planted.

Village chiefs and villagers destroyed illegal poppy plantation spread over 9 acres in Tolphei sector, 20 acres in Zouzang sector and 15 acres in Bhouzang sector.

All these places will be inspected by district police and executive magistrate after two days, the statement said.

A combined team of Imphal East district police, NAB, forest department, BSF and 16 AR along with executive magistrate also destroyed poppy plantation along NP Khullen-B Gamnom hill range from December 26 to 30 .

The combined team destroyed poppy plantations spread over 20 acres in the area.

The combined team, however, could not completely destroy newly grown poppy plants at NP Khullen but destruction drive in the area will be conducted after a survey.

A combined team of Chandel district Police, 8 MR and NAB led by ASP (OPS) also destroyed about 35 acres of poppy plantation in Hengshi area of the district.

In the drive conducted from December 28 to 30, the district police destroyed poppy plantations spread over 70 acres in Hengshi area.

Meanwhile, a combined team of Kangpokpi district police, NAB, forest department along with executive magistrate destroyed poppies spread over 30 acres at Sehjang, Saikot and Khollen villages in Koubru hill range on Friday.

Regarding the drive, Kangpokpi police has registered a case and started investigation.

A combined team of JwalamUkhi battalion, Kangpokpi police, forest department, NAB and Manipur police commando also destroyed poppy plantations from Gelnal to Selsi villages falling under Jwalamukhi battalion's company operating bases on Friday and destroyed 25 acres of poppy plantation.

In the drive conducted in Selsi village on December 23, poppy plantation spread over 30 acres were destroyed.

In the destruction, seven huts used for keeping materials used in poppy cultivation including fertilizers, salt packets and herbicides were burnt along with the materials.

Also on December 23, Kangpokpi district police teams along with NAB, forest department, AR and SDO destroyed about 10 acres of illicit poppy cultivation along Molkon and Phulaijang hill range under Saikul PS.

On December 24, Kangpokpi district police arrested two accused people for plantation of poppy on the western hill range of Selsi.

The two arrested people are Paokhomang Kipgen alias David (41) son of late Jangkhohao Kipgen, of Selsi village, Kangpokpi district (secretary of Selsi village) and Henkholun Kipgen alias Helun (62) son of late Khohem Kipgen of Selsi village, Kangpokpi district (vice chairman of Selsi village).

During the month of December, 2022, a combined team of Ukhrul district police, 6 MR NAB and forest department carried out destruction of poppy cultivated areas in Ukhrul district along Ringui (Tungou) hill range, Cham-phung hill range and Champhung-Tora hill range.

On December 23, 90 per sonnel comprising teams of Churachandpur district police and 1 IRB led by the SP/CCP and CO 1 IRB in the presence of SDO Tuibong conducted poppy destruction drive in the forest area of Thinghangjang village and destroyed around 65 acres of poppy cultivated areas.

Later, the chief of Thinghangjang village namely Kamkhosei Haokip (48) son of late Otjathang Haokip of Songpi (AP) was arrested and produced before the CJM for further investigation.

On December 29, a combined team of district administration and Churachandpur police and IRB led by DC Sharat Chandra Arroju carried out destruction of illegal poppy cultivation in D Lhangjol village area and destroyed about 15 acres of poppy cultivated area completely.

Ten matured stems of poppy with pods and about 40 kg of fertilizers were also seized from the spot as evidence.

Later, on the same day at about 4.50 pm, chief of D Langjhol village namely Letkholal Khongsai (47) son of Jamkholet Khongshai was arrested from Tuibuong area.

According to the PRO, a combined team of Imphal East district police assisted by NAB, forest department and BSF along with executive magistrate conducted poppy destruction drive along Monglham hill range and destroyed poppy plants grown in an area of land measuring about 40 acres.

Later, the chief of Monglham village namely Paojamang Haokip (56) son of late Khaikholet Haokip of Kangpokpi district was arrested from Checkon Tribal Market.

Necessary legal formalities are in progress.

All the accused people involved in plantations of poppy will be charged under NDPS Act, PITNDPS Act and as well as Forest Act for destruction of forest, the PRO said and appealed to all village chiefs and villagers to inform the government authorities of any illegal poppy plantation in their villages and voluntarily destroyed such illegal poppy plantation before harvesting opium.

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