Manipur: Security forces destroy 22 acres of poppy fields in Churachandpur

Imphal: Indian security forces and law enforcement agencies on Monday destroyed approximately 22 acres of illegally cultivated poppy fields and burned down three makeshift huts during a coordinated anti-narcotics operation in Manipur’s Churachandpur district, officials said.

The operation was carried out in the Dampi area under the jurisdiction of Sangaikot Police Station, where poppy plants at various stages of growth were eradicated. The action was conducted in the presence of an Executive Magistrate.

A joint task force comprising personnel from Churachandpur District Police, the Forest Department, 129 Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force, 1st India Reserve Battalion, Narcotic Affairs and Border, Churachandpur, along with the Executive Magistrate, participated in the operation. The team uprooted and destroyed the standing crops and dismantled infrastructure supporting the illegal cultivation.

Officials said three temporary huts used by the cultivators were also set ablaze to deter further illegal activities in the area. Additionally, materials commonly used in poppy farming—such as salt, urea, agricultural sprayers and other equipment—were seized and destroyed on the spot.

No arrests were made during the operation, as those involved in the illegal cultivation managed to evade the security forces, officials added.

Authorities estimated that the destroyed poppy fields had the potential to produce narcotics worth approximately Rs 7.7 lakh. On average, a fully mature acre of poppy cultivation yields around 25 kilograms of raw opium, which fetches prices ranging between Rs 45,000 and Rs 87,500 per kilogram at government-fixed rates in India.

The operation follows a similar crackdown conducted on January 16, 2026, when a combined team of security forces, the Forest Department and the Executive Magistrate destroyed around 10 acres of illegal poppy cultivation in the Suangkong Hill range under Behiang Police Station in Churachandpur district.

Officials reiterated that such coordinated operations will continue as part of the government’s sustained drive against illegal poppy cultivation and narcotics-related activities in the region.