Guwahati/Imphal:

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh today reached out to his counterpart in neighbouring Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, in a show of support to the Assam Police for destroying illegal opium poppy cultivation worth over Rs 27 crore.

The police in Assam’s Goalpara destroyed 170 bighas (over 56 acres) of poppy plantation in January, Mr Sarma said in a post on X on Sunday.

The Assam Chief Minister also uploaded a video showing a tractor racing the poppy fields amid a large police presence.

Mr Sarma warned “local Pablo Escobars” not to try it again. The reference was to the Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar and leader of the Medellin cartel which at one point controlled 80 per cent of the international cocaine trade. He was killed in December 1993.

“Dear Local Pablo Escobars, sorry to spoil your planned Udta Assam party. Because Goalpara Police destroyed 170 bighas of poppy cultivation in the Char areas worth Rs 27.20 crore in January. So next time you think of drugs, think of Assam Police first,” Mr Sarma said in the post on X.

Dear Local Pablo Escobars,

Sorry to spoil your planned Udta Assam party!

Because @Goalpara_Police destroyed 170 Bighas of poppy cultivation in the Char areas worth ₹27.20 crore in January.

So next time you think of drugs, think of @assampolice first.#AssamAgainstDrugs pic.twitter.com/JPt9IoxsKJ

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) February 2, 2025

“Udta Assam” was an allusion to the 2016 Bollywood film ‘Udta Punjab’, which dealt with the subject of drug addiction in Punjab.

Responding to Mr Sarma, the Manipur Chief Minister said the two states stand together in working to ensure they are “free from the shadow of drugs.”

“My deep appreciation for the decisive measures taken in Assam, under the leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma ji in addressing the challenges posed by cultivation of poppy. We stand together and remain resolute in our shared goal of building a future where every youth of the NE [northeast] is protected, nurtured, and given the opportunity to thrive free from the shadow of drugs,” Mr Singh said in the post.

My deep appreciation for the decisive measures taken in Assam, under the leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri @himantabiswa ji, in addressing the challenges posed by the cultivation of poppy.

We stand together and remain resolute in our shared goal of building a future… https://t.co/G3Xl4hYQpF

— N. Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) February 2, 2025

The Manipur Chief Minister said over 25 acres of illegal poppy plantations were destroyed in Tengnoupal subdivision’s Khudei Khullen hill range and a first information report (FIR) was filed today.

Manipur has been experiencing ethnic violence between the valley-dominant Meitei community and over a dozen distinct tribes collectively known as Kuki, who are dominant in some hill areas of the state. Both communities have been fighting since May 2023 over a range of issues such as land rights and political representation.

The Kuki tribes have alleged the Biren Singh government targeted poor farmers in the hills who have no other sources of income and ignored the role of drug lords living in Meitei-dominated valley areas. The Manipur government has refuted the allegations and shared data to assert no community was singled out in the state’s ‘war on drugs’ campaign.

A mob of some 80 people from the Kuki tribes confronted a security team that went to destroy illegal opium poppy cultivation in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district and damaged four vehicles on Friday. The incident happened in the Lhungjang hill range where personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the police had gone.

A first information report has been filed into the matter.

Himanta Biswa Sarma uploaded a video of destroying the poppy cultivation.

New Delhi:

Kangpokpi district reported the largest area under illegal opium poppy cultivation in Manipur at 17.49 square kilometres (sqkm), or 4,322 acres, in 2023-24, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav said as reported by the state government in a written reply to questions by Inner Manipur Congress MP Angomcha Bimol Singh in the Lok Sabha.

Mr Akoijam asked four questions: the district-wise details of total areas of reserved forest, protected forest and unclassified forest in Manipur; the total district-wise area covered by poppy plantation/cultivation; total area of reserved forest, protected forest and unclassified forest affected by poppy cultivation/plantation, and details of measures taken by the government to counter the menace of poppy cultivation/plantation in forest areas in Manipur.

Senapati district reported the second-highest area under illegal opium poppy cultivation at 9.44 sqkm, or 2,332 acres, the Union Minister said. The third-highest was reported from Ukhrul district at 6.47 sqkm, or 1,598 acres.

The other areas under illegal opium poppy cultivation in descending order are Churachandpur 6.02 sqkm (1,487 acres), Kamjong 4.21 sqkm (1,040 acres), Chandel 0.91 sqkm (224 acres), Tengnoupal 0.50 sqkm (123 acres), Noney 0.47 sqkm (116 acres), and Tamenglong 0.17 sqkm (42 acres).

The data is from the Manipur Remote Sensing Application Centre (MARSAC).

The size of illegal opium poppy cultivation by classification of the areas show ‘unclassed forest’ had 20.40 sqkm (5,041 acres) under poppy cultivation. Poppy plantation in protected forests was 19.24 sqkm (4,754 acres), reserved forests 3.47 sqkm (857 acres), proposed reserved forest 2.51 sqkm (620 acres), and protected wildlife areas 0.06 sqkm (14 acres).

The total area under illegal opium poppy cultivation in 2023-24 in Manipur was 45.68 sqkm, or approximately 11,288 acres, according to the data from Manipur shared by the Union Minister in the Lok Sabha.

Mr Yadav said the protection and management of forests is primarily the responsibility of the state government or the Union Territory concerned.

“… Further, in order to counter the menace of poppy cultivation/plantation in forest areas in Manipur, various measures are being taken by the government of Manipur which include destroying of 77.44 square kilometre poppy cultivation by a combined team of police, forests,    Narcotics and Affairs of Border (NAB) and paramilitary forces…” the Union Minister said in the reply to Mr Akoijam’s four questions.

He said the Manipur Police filed 2,351 narcotics-related cases between 2017 and 2023.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh last week posted visuals of the security forces destroying illegal opium poppy cultivation in different districts. He said the ‘war on drugs’ campaign will continue.

Imphal:

The Assam Rifles alone destroyed 354 acres of illicit poppy cultivation this year, primarily in three Manipur districts — Ukhrul, Churachandpur and Chandel. A defence spokesman said that through meticulously planned joint operations, the force successfully identified and destroyed 354 acres of illicit poppy cultivation, primarily in the districts of Ukhrul, Churachandpur, and Chandel.

The Assam Rifles continued its determination to fight against the menace of poppy cultivation along the India-Myanmar border, he said.

The spokesman said that by eliminating poppy fields and striking at the roots of narco-trade, Assam Rifles has reaffirmed its commitment towards ensuring stability and security in Manipur and beyond.

According to the defence official, the battle against poppy cultivation has been a consistent priority for the paramilitary force, as reflected in its sustained efforts over the years.

In 2020 the force identified a staggering 8,057 acres of poppy fields, of which 1,695 acres were destroyed. This trend of rigorous action continued in subsequent years with 5,610 acres identified and 1,976 acres destroyed in 2021.

The Assam Rifles intensified its operations in 2022 identifying 494 acres and destroying 715 acres, including previously undiscovered patches. In 2023, 1,735 acres were identified and 1,488 acres were eradicated.

By 2024 the area of identified poppy fields had declined significantly, reflecting the success of the state and Central governments and security forces’ multi-pronged strategy, the spokesman pointed out.

Noting that the ongoing ethnic crisis in Manipur, no single agency can effectively address this challenge alone, the spokesman said that collaborative operations have proven essential, with Assam Rifles actively coordinating with state and central agencies, including the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Manipur Police and other CAPFs deployed in the area.

The NCB, as the nodal agency for drug enforcement under the Ministry of Home Affairs, ensured synergy among all stakeholders during operations, especially during the opium harvesting seasons. Joint operations have focused on curbing cultivation, disrupting supply chains and dismantling the networks sustaining the illicit drug trade.

The security cover provided by the force has ensured the safe execution of destruction operations in vulnerable and conflict-prone areas.

5.7 ACRES OF POPPY PLANTATION DESTROYED AT THINGHANGJANG AREA, CHURACHANDPUR.

Well done, combined team of Churachandpur Police, 36 AR, CCPur Forest Division, and NAB for their successful operation in the Thinghangjang area under Tuibuong Sub-division. The destruction of… pic.twitter.com/MKUSZgV3ht

— N. Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) December 14, 2024

Assam Rifles deftly incorporated advanced technology, such as drone surveillance in identifying poppy fields in inaccessible terrains.

An official statement said that these high-tech measures are complemented by actionable intelligence from local communities and inputs from civil society organisations (CSOs).

The Leveraging of Technology and Community Support has significantly enhanced the effectiveness of operations, ensuring a swift and targeted approach. Additionally, the Force has also maintained a robust ground presence through Area Domination Patrols in traditional cultivation zones. This persistent vigilance has acted as a deterrent to the resurgence of illegal farming practices, the statement said.

Beyond destruction campaigns, Assam Rifles has also prioritised addressing the socio-economic factors driving poppy cultivation.

Under its “Drug-Free Manipur” initiative, the Force has conducted extensive awareness drives to educate communities about the perils of drug addiction and the risks associated with illegal farming.

Through regular interactions with villagers and local leaders, the force has actively promoted sustainable livelihood options, encouraging a shift toward legitimate and long-term economic activities.

Assam Rifles’ zero-tolerance policy against narcotics-related activities has led to legal actions against defaulters, including cultivators and financiers. These measures, combined with efforts to restrict cross-border narcotics trafficking, have disrupted the infrastructure supporting poppy cultivation.