Kangpokpi administration intensifies crackdown on illegal poppy cultivation in Manipur
A joint security team destroyed approximately 45 acres of illegal poppy fields along the Thangjing Hill Range during a recent enforcement operation.
The Kangpokpi district administration has increased its efforts to combat drug trafficking and illegal poppy farming, according to NENow. Security agencies and government departments have been ordered to monitor supply chains and finish eradication efforts before the upcoming elections.
A joint security team recently destroyed about 45 acres of illegal poppy crops in the Thangjing Hill Range. The operation included the Churachandpur District Police, the 1st India Reserve Battalion (IRB), the 58th Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the Narcotics and Border Affairs (NAB) department, and the Forest Department.
No suspects were located at the site during the raid, which was supervised by an Executive Magistrate. Official summonses were subsequently issued to the chief of Lhangnom village regarding jurisdictional oversight.
Narcotics Coordination Centre (NCORD) Chairman Hemant Kumar directed security forces to remove all poppy plants before they reach the flowering stage. He stated that these actions must follow Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines.
Superintendent of Police Rahul Gupta said authorities have finished mapping and identifying areas used for illegal cultivation. He noted that joint operations involving civil society organisations, the Forest Department, and central security forces are currently active.
The administration has ordered police and Sub-Divisional Officers to take action against fertiliser dealers assisting illegal farming within two weeks. Additionally, a Drug Inspector will audit local chemical shops for mandatory CCTV systems by the end of the month.