'Manipur violence caused by narco-terrorism'
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 04 2024: Lok Sabha MP from Hyderabad and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi, remarked in the parliament that the root cause of the violence in Manipur is narco-terrorism, adding that cross-border smuggling of drugs and weapons led to the violence.

Speaking in the parliament on Wednesday with regard to Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB), Owaisi said that the north-eastern states of India, which are bordering Myanmar, are now bearing the brunt, following the strict prohibition on opium cultivation in Afghanistan.

He continued that Myanmar is now the highest producer of opium in the world, and as such, Manipur recorded the highest number opium seizure.

From 2022-23 (July), around Rs 1,600 crore worth of drugs were seized in Manipur.

Citing NCB deputy director general, Owaisi said that the rise in drug smuggling activities is also funding terrorist activities.

Armed groups have also joined, escalating the unrest situation in Manipur.

In addition, mass cultivation of poppies are being carried out in Manipur, followed by setting up of drug factories in the state, which are then transporting the unfinished products to Myanmar.

The products, after modifications, are then smuggled back into Manipur, he elaborated.

Owaisi then said that since the violence broke out in Manipur, around 2600 weapons have been seized or confiscated, of which 800 are highly sophisticated weapons.

These weapons are smuggled in from outside India.

Thus, the illegal drug trade is closely related with the illegal weapons trade, he pointed out, reiterating that this led to the violence in Manipur.

However, the central government did not allocate any budget to modernise NCB for this financial year.

The allocation of Rs 3 crore to states to assist in controlling narcotics is purely for name sake, he remarked.

Unfortunately, in Manipur, an additional SP who received the gallantry award for seizing Rs 28 crore worth of drugs resigned.

In an affidavit submitted to the High Court of Manipur, the former officer accused the CM of obstruction.

Thus, as long as the current CM stays in power, the violence in Manipur will not subside, Owaisi said.

He, however, was interrupted by the Speaker when he (Owaisi) mentioned the CM, stating that his statements were not related to the topic up for discussion.

He was informed that his statements in the House would not be recorded and stopped from speaking any further.

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