NIA, NCB to handle drug cases in state
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 23 2022: Taking serious note of the large scale illegal poppy cultivations being taken up in remote hill areas of the state, chief minister N Biren has stated that those arrested in connection with poppy cultivation and drug trafficking will be handed over to NIA or NCB.

He made the statement during the distributton of benefits of different schemes under Manipur Building and Other Construction Workers' Welfare Board held at Hapta Kangjeibung, here, on Friday.

Speaking on the occasion, the CM maintained that his government's War on Drugs mission was appreciated in the parliament by union home minister Amit Shah and it encourages the government and its agencies to work harder to root out these drug cartels.

Following intensive drives and participation of the public including tribal leaders, the state is reporting around 90 per cent decline in illegal poppy plantation.

However, there are still vast areas of poppy plantation and it will need a concerted effort from both the government and the public, he said.

The CM also spoke on the negative impacts of poppy cultivation to the soil fertility, natural vegetation and water retention capacity of soil in the hills due to extensive use of chemical fer tilisers and herbicides.

The state cabinet had already decided to take up legal actions against village chiefs if they were found allowing illegal poppy plantation in their areas, he remarked while urging all concerned to stop such illegal practice.

He also said that any individual ar rested in connection with poppy plantation and drug trafficking will be handed over to NIA or NCB.

On the other hand, while responding to media on the sidelines of releasing DIPR calendar and diary, the CM said that two village chiefs, whom police brought to Imphal in connection with illegal poppy plantation, escaped from police custody.

Consequently, an Officer inCharge of the police station concerned and the Inves tigating Officer (IO) of the case have been suspended, and another personnel, who was guarding the two village chiefs is in police lock-up, the CM said.

While informing that additional police team has been sent to the village to round up village leaders involved in poppy cultivation, he, however, did not disclose the name of the village chiefs, their villages and the two suspended police officers.

Biren accepted that there are still illegal poppy plantations in some remote hill areas even though numerous tribal leaders have expressed their support to the War on Drugs campaign.

There are reports of poppy cultivators threatening village chiefs for using land under their jurisdiction on lease.

Though the government has some detailed reports on these cases, it would be kept confidential until the perpetrators are tracked down and arrested, Biren said, adding that the government is identifying poppy farms using drones.

The CM also spoke on the condition of youth in the state due to widespread abuse of drugs and other addictive substances and appealed to the public to join hands in eradicating the drug menace from the society and to hand over' drug addicts as well as traffickers and peddlers to police instead of resorting to violence so that the government could deal with them accordingly as per their offences.

Drug users need support and care in order to bring them to the mainstream, he reasoned.

The CM also recalled the drug menace and problem of HIV-AIDS that was prevalent in the state in the 80s.Even though the situation has been controlled through extensive awareness activities, intervention, punitive action and other means, the emerging trend of drug abuse is causing new problem, expressed and appealed to parents to keep the love for their children in their heart and take up measures to ensure that the children do not fall victims to drug abuse.

Showing their love for their children will result in their destruction, he said.

He further said that the government is plan ning to organise intensive awareness programme for village leaders in hill areas to discourage illegal poppy plantations.

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