In a significant blow to narcotics production in Northeast India, joint security forces and government agencies have successfully destroyed more than 530 acres of illicit poppy cultivation across Manipur during an intensive five-day operation.
The coordinated anti-narcotics drive, conducted from November 11 through Saturday, targeted multiple districts where illegal poppy farming had taken root, resulting in one of the largest such crackdowns in recent times.
Major Operations in Ukhrul District
The most substantial phase of the operation unfolded in Ukhrul district, where security teams in coordination with government agencies focused their efforts on the challenging terrain of hill ranges surrounding Somdal, Lamlai Chingfei village, and Litan.
During this intensive five-day campaign, officials eliminated approximately 436 acres of poppy plantations in Ukhrul alone. The destruction extended beyond the crops themselves, with the combined teams burning down 51 makeshift huts that had been erected at the cultivation sites.
These temporary structures are believed to have served dual purposes as shelters for cultivators and storage spaces for farming equipment and harvested materials.
Simultaneous Actions in Kangpokpi District
While the Ukhrul operation was underway, a separate joint task force comprising Manipur Police, Assam Rifles, and CRPF personnel launched a parallel operation on Saturday at Loibol Khullen village in Kangpokpi district.
This team successfully cleared around 20 acres of poppy fields and made significant seizures of materials used in the illegal cultivation process. Authorities recovered two sacks containing salt packets commonly employed in poppy farming and destroyed various farming tools discovered at the site, including spray pumps, irrigation pipes, and herbicides.
In another coordinated action within Kangpokpi district, a team consisting of Manipur Police, CRPF, and forest department officials targeted the hill ranges of Kotlen village. This operation resulted in the clearance of an additional 20 acres of illicit poppy cultivation.
The forces also burned down five temporary huts and destroyed three bags of fertilizers, two containers of Roundup herbicide, and two bags of salt - all critical components in the poppy cultivation process.
Earlier Operations Set the Stage
The massive five-day campaign built upon earlier anti-poppy efforts that had commenced on November 12. During these initial operations, security forces had already cleared poppy fields covering approximately 56 acres across two key locations.
These included the adjoining hill areas between Thonglang Akutpa and Songjang, as well as fields at Awlmun village in Kangpokpi district. In these preliminary actions, the teams razed 19 farm huts and disposed of 10 fertilizer bags and nine sacks of salt, disrupting the supply chain supporting the illegal cultivation.
The comprehensive nature of these operations, targeting not just the crops but also the supporting infrastructure and supplies, represents a strategic approach to combating the drug trade at its source. By destroying temporary shelters, farming tools, and essential cultivation materials, authorities aim to create significant obstacles for those attempting to resume illegal activities in these areas.
This coordinated multi-agency effort underscores the government's intensified focus on eradicating drug-related activities in Manipur and disrupting the supply chain of illicit substances at their agricultural origin.
