The Makhan (Makhen) Village Authority has criticized the additional superintendent of police (Addl. SP) of Kangpokpi and his team for "literally running away" from armed poppy planters, calling it a "complete mockery of their arms and uniform."
In a statement issued on Saturday, the village authority served a four-day ultimatum to the government to destroy poppy plantations on Makhan Liangmai Naga land and arrest the armed Kuki poppy cartel groups involved in the incident.
"Failure to comply within the given timeline will result in consequences that are both repulsive and abominable," the authority stated.
In the press release, the Makhan Village Authority described the incident as an affront to their reputation for clemency and character. They emphasized that any attempt to exploit their peaceful disposition would be met with justified retaliation.
The statement highlighted an alarming encroachment into Makhan Liangmai Naga land by opium poppy planters, allegedly involving Kuki groups and individuals.
According to the authority, “on November 20 at 11.30 am, despite prior communication with the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Kangpokpi, young volunteers from Makhan Village, alongside the Addl. SP and over 30 police personnel, were attacked during a mission to destroy poppy plantations.”
The attackers, wielding firearms and other weapons, aggressively confronted the team, destroying the equipment brought to uproot the poppy plants and effectively derailing the mission. The volunteers, traumatized by the confrontation, were forced to retreat.
The volunteers’ mission was not only to guide the police team through the difficult terrain but also to show solidarity with the Manipur Government's "War on Drugs" initiative, the statement added.
The Makhan Village Authority called the incident a "corruption of authority," undermining the state's fight against drugs and poppy cultivation. The retreat of the police team in the face of the violent resistance from the poppy planters was described as unprecedented and a blow to the state government's mission.
Initially, the village had sought a peaceful resolution, trusting the government’s machinery to act decisively. However, the lack of action has eroded that trust, the authority stated.
The Makhan Village Authority warned of serious repercussions if the government fails to act within the four-day deadline. They declared that all forms of transport and commuting through their land would face democratic tampering if no action is taken.
"Any aftermath or repercussion stemming from this critical situation shall be borne by the government," the statement concluded.
