Manipur: 69 acres of poppy plantations destroyed across three districts

Imphal: Ahead of the incoming spring seasons, Indian security forces and people taking part in the government's "War Against Drugs" destroyed acres of poppy flowers blooming on the hill slopes across three districts in Manipur.

A large number of security forces along with the Forest Department destroyed about nine acres of poppy plantation which are at its blooms at the Hill Ranges of Khudei Khullen Village in Manipur's Tengnoupal district with Myanmar on the south.

The opium poppy flowers ripe for bumper harvesting were razed to the ground in the presence of the Sub Divisional Magistrate, Tengnoupal on Sunday, officials said on Monday. 

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In the northern part of Manipur's Senapati district bordering Nagaland on the north and largely inhabited by the Naga tribes, a combined team of Senapati district police, 109 Battalion CRPF, and 4th IRB Taphou destroyed a total of 10 acres of poppy plants.

The illegal poppy cultivation grown on the Sadim hill range under the Senapati police station was chopped down before the watchful eyes of the concerned SDCs.

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The joint forces assisted by Tangkhul Naga outfit volunteers were also busy conducting poppy destruction drives in the Ukhrul district in the northeastern part of the state.

Around 50 acres of opium poppy flowers were smashed at Khamasom hill range near the Indo-Myanmar border.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh in post on X (formerly twitter) stated, "The eradication of approximately 70 acres of poppy cultivated areas is a significant step in our fight against drug trafficking and illegal narcotics production."