The Mao Council of Senapati district on Thursday declared the entire Mao area in Senapati district as a ‘drug free zone’ and took a stand against the poppy cultivation in support of the state government’s ‘war on drugs’ campaign .
A delegation of Mao Council, village chiefs, student organisations and women led by minister Letpao Haokip and MLA Losii Dikho met Chief Minister N Biren on Thursday and submitted a resolution of the tribe declaring Mao areas as ‘drug free zone’.
The decision to declare the area as a drug free zone was taken during a consultative meeting held at Mao Council office located at Tadubi on May 20.
The resolution submitted to N Biren stated that the Mao Council and its subordinate frontal organisations resolved to vigorously extend logistic support to the leadership of N Biren-led government to eradicate drugs from the state.
The meeting resolved to completely ban any form of drugs within the jurisdiction of Mao, as per the resolution. It resolved to impose a penalty to defaulters a sum of Rs 1 lakh concerning all allied activities relating to drugs, namely plantation of poppy, opium, smuggling or trafficking of any kind of illegal drugs to both local and non-locals of Mao.
The meeting resolved that village-to-village mobilisation should be initiated and regular monitoring of the same shall be conducted by the Mao Student Union and Mao Youth Organisation.
Henceforth, the meeting unanimously declared the Mao area as a ‘drug free zone’, as per their resolution.
Speaking to the media, at CM secretariat, N Biren appreciated the Mao council and its subordinate frontal organisations for their resolution. He commended that it is a positive sign of emotional attachment between communities.
Biren expressed his happiness to receive voluntary support from Mao Council and others against poppy plantations, illegal drug business and drug abuse. He also exuded confidence of the mission’s success as the involvement of the public is very important.
He further lauded the Mao Students’ Union and Mao Youth Organisation for their initiative to organise Cherry tree plantation drive for Green Highway and Road Safety Mission from Makhan Khuman to Mao Gate along the AH-2. “Only when people are united, can we face any challenge,” he said.
He further raised concern that there seems to be some interference from outsiders trying to create division among the indigenous communities of the state. He further appealed to the people of the state not to be influenced by such external influences.
Regarding the Mark Thangmang Haokip arrest, Biren said that the government is against elements which are anti-social, not with the general people.
“Being a human right activist, he or she should not post anti-social words that promote hatred amongst different communities in the state,” said CM Biren.
He further alleged that Mark Thangmang Haokip is from Myanmar. “What is he doing in India, in Manipur?” he questioned. The cyber crime cell of Manipur is very strong; any post led to communal and hatred between communities will lead to registering of FIR, he added.
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