Manipur forces destroy 4-acre poppy plantation in Senapati district bordering Nagaland

Imphal: A joint team of Manipur Police, Assam Rifles, forest officials, and CRPF destroyed a poppy plantation in Manipur's Senapati district, which shares borders with Nagaland to the north, officials said on Friday.

The team eradicated approximately 4 acres of poppy plantation at the Sorbung hill range under the Senapati police station.

In this connection, N. Biren Singh, the former Chief Minister of Manipur, posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, December 4, 2025, about widespread deforestation and illicit poppy plantations in the state.

He warned that if concrete action is not taken, Manipur will face an "existential crisis." Manipur has experienced significant forest loss, with a space analytics firm reporting that 52,000 acres (21,100 hectares) were lost between 2021 and 2025 due to poppy cultivation, illegal logging, shifting cultivation (jhum), infrastructure projects, and climate change.

Singh shared a video clip, which he said showed poppy cultivation at the Kolten and Selsi Hill Ranges in the Kangpokpi district.

He linked the widespread destruction of forests and these illicit activities to the recurrent floods experienced in the state.

He also questioned why Forest Department officials had not taken action and suggested that "armed militants" are likely involved in these activities.

He urged immediate, concrete action to safeguard the state's environment and future.