Village chairman among 9 poppy cultivators arrested
Source: Chronicle News Service

Senapati, January 17 2023: In support of "War on Drugs" campaign, Senapati district police carried out extensive operations in the district on the intervening night of January 16 and 17, and arrested eight poppy cultivators from Chalaha Khabung Khunou), Senapati district and the village chairman.

The raid was conducted under the supervision of Senapati SP Karthik Malladi along the Eastern Hill Range of Chalaha (Khabung Khunou) .

The police team reached the spot around 1.30 am and found eight cultivators residing in temporary huts built near the poppy field.

The team cordoned the area and arrested the poppy cultivators including Meelan Gole Tamang (29) s/o Lal Bir Gole Tamang of Irang Part-2, Dashing Paksring Tamang (38) s/o Sedimang Tamang of Irang Part-2, Man Bahadur Tamang (53) s/o Pasuram Tamang of Irang Part-2, Kumar (39) s/o Arka Bahadur of New Magiimai, Maram; Krishna Kumar (33) s/o Pamka Bahadur of Khabung village, Pasang Tamang (50) s/o Tej Bahadur of Kanglatongbi, Ajit Gole (29) s/o Som Bahadur of Irang Part-1 and Som Bahadur (22) s/o Pakha Bahadur of Angkailongdi village.

Addressing the media on Tuesday, Senapati ASP ML Kai-shungbou informed that under the initiative of the CM's "War on drugs" campaign, the district police arrested the eight persons from Chalaha (Khabung Khunou) hill range and the village chairman identified as Johnson alias Tarzan.

The cultivators were growing poppy in around 60 acres of land.

Earlier, the district police had destroyed about 20 acres of poppy plantations on December 23 last in the area and registered an FIR at Senapati police station.

While looking out for other poppy cultivators, the station received information from reliable source on January 16 of their presence and accordingly, arrested 8 of them from the spot, which is a success story of the district police, the officer maintained.

He continued that under "War on Drugs 2.0", the district police have destroyed illegal poppy cultivation in the district since 2019-20 years.

Around 550 acres of land were detected to be growing illegal poppy in 2019-20 in the district.

Later, the district police destroyed about 330 acres of poppy cultivation in the district in 2022.Under the supervision of SP Senapati, a target of Zero Poppy was set and advanced field surveys had been conducted in the district for about three times with teams consisting of SDO, forest officials and district police and found 19 different villages preparing to grow illegal poppy.

Stern warnings were given to the village chiefs, including legal actions if they continue, following which the cultivations were stopped.

However, hill ranges of Chalaha (Khabung Khunou) and Oklong villages were reported to have started cultivating poppy in 2023, he added.

As such, the district police destroyed about 7 acres of poppy cultivation at Oklong range and identified the land owner along with the land owners of Chalaha (Khabung Khunou).

Due process is on for investigation and efforts are underway for their arrests, the ASP Senapati conveyed.

ML Kaishungbou also appreciated the support extended by the different CSOs of the district in the fight against drug menace.

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