Manipur: Joint forces destroy 67-acre illegal poppy fields worth Rs 1.6 crore

Imphal: A joint team of security forces from the central and state governments destroyed 67 acres of illegal poppy cultivation in the hill ranges of Manipur's Kangpokpi district.

The police said the poppy fields had a potential value of around Rs 1.6 crore in the regional clandestine trade.

The team, comprising the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Manipur Police, Assam Rifles, CRPF, and Forest Department, carried out the operation at Makui Ashang, Laloi, Wakotphai, Chaljang, and surrounding areas under Kangpokpi Police Station over the past 36 hours.

As part of the fully grown poppy flowering plant destruction campaign, the team also destroyed 38 huts, 44 bags of fertilisers, 43 Roundup herbicides, 26 bags of salt, and equipment such as spray pumps, pipes, and other tools found at the cultivation sites.

Meanwhile, former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, on his X account, wrote that Ajay Kumar Bhalla, the Governor of Manipur, is instructing law enforcers to destroy poppy cultivation in various hill ranges.

He noted that such operations demonstrate a clear resolve to protect forests, safeguard youth, and uphold the rule of law.

Biren further wrote that this initiative aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision of a Nasha Mukt Bharat, and it is encouraging to see Manipur actively contributing to this national mission.

He concluded, "I urge the authorities to continue these operations across all vulnerable regions of the state so that no area remains a haven for narcotics activities. Only through consistent and collective action can we fully secure Manipur’s future and ensure a healthier, safer, and drug-free society."