Awareness on 'illegal cultivation of poppy in Senapati district' held
Source: The Sangai Express

Senapati, November 18 2021: Naga People's Organization (NPO) and Senapati district police on Thursday jointly organised a one day awareness programme on 'Illegal cultivation of Poppy in Senapati district' at DRDA hall Senapati.

Speaking on the occasion, Additional SP (L/O) Senapati, Tholu Rocky, MPS enlightened the gathering on the topic 'cultivation of poppy- legal perspective'.

He cautioned that poppy cultivators in Senapati district would be liable for legal action while adding that the landowner and village leaders would also be arrested if the poppy cultivator absconds.

"Under NDPS Act 1985 Section 46, every holder of land shall give immediate information to any officer of police or any of the department mentioned in section 42 (Excise, narcotics, customs, revenue, intelligence or any department of the Central government including paramilitary forces and armed forces) of all poppy, cannabis, coca plant which may be illegally cultivated within his land and such land holder who knowingly neglects to give information shall be liable to punishment", he asserted.

Tholu Rocky also highlighted the various legal perspectives on cultivation of poppy under the NDPS Act-1985 which includes rigorous imprisonment from 10-20 years and fine from Rs 1-2 lakh.

Awareness on 'illegal cultivation of poppy in Senapati district' held

Superintendent of police, Narcotics and Affairs of Border Manipur, K Meghachandra Singh MPS, elaborated on the effects of illegal poppy cultivation and stated that drug trafficking in Manipur is largely attributed to various external and internal factors.

"The prime external factor is India's close proximity to major opium producing regions of SouthEast Asia known as the Golden triangular", said Meghachandra while adding that the major internal factors responsible include illicit cultivation of poppy and cannabis.

The SP informed that there are reports of large-scale cultivation in remote and interior areas of Chandel, Churachandpur, Senapati, Kangpokpi, Ukhrul, Tengnoupal, Imphal East, Kaching , Bishupur and Kamjong districts.

Meghachandra Singh also opined that solution to the prevailing drug situation in Manipur could be found in the recently approved "Manipur state policy on Psycho-active substances, 2019" as published in Manipur Gazette on December 21, 2020.Divisional Forest Officer Senapati, D John Sha delivered a speech on 'cultivation of poppy and its negative environmental impact'.

He mentioned that the major negative environmental impacts of poppy cultivation includes deforestation, loss of biodiversity and impact on soil and water.

President NPO Solomon Arow also mentioned that the NPO presidential council meeting in 2018 resolved to ban poppy cultivation in the district and reaffirmed it in 2021. The programme chaired by W/SI Ariini Kribve was also attended by representatives of NPO, SDSA, SDWA along with police personnel and tribe leaders of the district.

Additional SP (NH-2) Senapati proposed the vote of thanks while Rev K Daniel president SKABU said the prayers.