A combined team of Manipur police along with Assam Rifles and Indian Reserve Battalion on Monday destroyed about 3,000 acres of poppy plants at K Hengjang hill range, located around 2 km away from B Gamnom village, Kangpokpi district.
The combined team consist of a column of Assam Rifles of Somrei Assam Rifles post; Indian Reserve Battalion, Manipur Rifles, district commando Imphal East and Imphal West; Maphou Dam Police Station; a team of Narcotics and Affairs of Border (NAB) led by its SP K Meghachandra along with DIG Range I, Themthing Ngasangva.
Meghachandra told the media on the spot of poppy destruction through a video clip that the police department has been calculating that about 4,000 to 5,000 acres of poppy plants are cultivated in a year. However, as per the poppy plants destruction drive conducted at K Henjang hill range, the areas of poppy plantations may have been even larger and it could be about 15,000 to 20,000 acres in a year.
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He said that a survey of the drive was started earlier in September in almost the entire areas of Saikul and Kangpokpi. If the momentum of the poppy drive continues then almost the entire poppy plantation in the state could be destroyed.
The SP further said NAB will be continuing the poppy plants destruction drive and whoever involved in the plantation will be booked even if any village chief is found guilty.
About 10 acres of poppy plants were found to be in full bloom and others are yet to be in flowering stage. As most of the plants are in a small stage, another operation will be conducted at the same spot so that no poppy plants are left out, said Meghachandra.
