Village chiefs indulge in poppy plantation will be arrested

Last Updated on February 17, 2023 by SPN Editor

Chief Minister N Biren convened a special meeting of all senior police and law officials regarding war on drugs issues in the state. Biren said that reports are confirmed that 4-5 villages in the hills are engaged in poppy plantations. When most of village chiefs have vowed to stop poppy plantation, these new villages are engaged in the crime, he added.

“I have instructed the Manipur Police and the Narcotics and Affairs of Border (NAB) team to arrest those village chiefs and take necessary actions, Biren added.

“Convened a special meeting of all senior police and law officials to discuss some critical matters regarding war on drugs. I have given some very strict instructions for dealing with all drugs related matters,” the CM Biren tweeted after holding the meeting on Monday.

Few days ago, the local people have destroyed a poppy farm in the Henglep areas which must be encouraged by those involved in War on Drugs. Hundreds of people, including Meira Paibis, under the banner Poirei Leimarol, AMAWOVA, AMUCO and MSF took out a torch rally against the menace of drugs and alcoholism in the Manipuri society in Imphal on Sunday.

The Coalition Against Drugs and Alcohol (CADA) also held a public meeting Saturday on ‘Nishana Khunnaida Piba Cheitheng Amasung Nupi Angangsingda Chathaba Meewot Meenei Masibu Thingbada Meeyamgi Thoudang’ (The effect of drugs on society, and the role of public in stopping its ill effects on women and children). The meeting was held at Khurai Konsam Leikai, Imphal East.

Meanwhile, the Tengnoupal Battalion seized 4301 grams of brown sugar packed in 99 soap cases, worth around Rs 8.60 crore, IGAR (South) said on Sunday. It said the security personnel also recovered illicit items worth Rs 8.75 lakh on Sunday.

Biren said 1,647 cases related to drugs were registered in the ‘War on Drugs 1.0’, which was launched in the first five years of his term. And, 2,104 persons had been arrested and drugs amounting around Rs 3,212 crore in the international market had been seized, he had mentioned.

And, under the ‘War on Drugs 2.0’ poppy plantations of around 14,000 acres had been destroyed and that the state police had arrested a total of 432 persons, 256 cases had been registered, drugs amounting Rs 818 crore and poppy plantations of 531 acres had been destroyed, Biren said in his Independence Day 2022 speech.