KANGPOKI, Nov 23: The Makhan (Makhen) Village Authority, has issued a stern ultimatum to the state government, demanding immediate action against alleged encroachment by opium poppy cultivators, primarily identified as certain Kuki groups and individuals.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Makhan Village Authority, highlights an alarming incident on November 20, 2024, (exactly at 11:30 AM), when an anti-poppy operation was disrupted by alleged armed members of the Kuki community.

“Coupled with a prior and official communication to the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Kangpokpi, the Makhan Village young and tendered volunteers trouping alongside Addl. SP Kangpokpi and his team of over 30 police personnel were manhandled right on the mission spot,” it alleged. “The planters, i.e. some Kuki groups, of Papaver somniferum, commonly known as poppy, wielding guns and weapons, rushed devilishly to the volunteers and the police team and than, mauling the equipments and hardwares brought to cut off the poppy plants, and thereby incapacitating the mission,” the statement further said.

They described the incident as a severe challenge to law enforcement and the state government’s “War on Drugs” initiative. “The young Makhan Village volunteers had to retreat traumatized by the gun brandishing by the poppy planters. The volunteers were on this mission, apart from the SP Kangpokpi proposal, because of two reasons: to guide the police team through the difficult terrain and to show solidarity with the government’s mission,” the statement noted.

However, the village authority criticized the police personnel for their lack of action and retreating in the face of aggression. “The Additional SP Kangpokpi and his team literally running away from the hooligans, i.e. the poppy planters, was a complete mockery of their arms and uniform. The volunteers were left flabbergasted on seeing the Police personnel displaying not a single restraint upon the violent poppy planters. This feral and theriomorphic manhandling must have been unprecedented in the Manipur Government’s fight and struggled against poppy cultivation and drugs,” it stated.

The Makhan Village Authority also expressed frustration over the failure of law enforcement agencies to act decisively against poppy cultivation. “We initially sought a peaceful resolution, believing those Kuki groups and individuals would respect dialogues and conversations. However, this act of transgression has shattered our faith in peace and harmony,” the statement read.

The village authority has set a four-day deadline for the government to act. They have demanded the immediate destruction of the poppy plants from the Makhan Liangmai Naga land and arrest those Kuki poppy cartel groups and individuals who brandished their arms and weapons on the young volunteers and butchered the equipments.

Failure to comply with these demands, according to the authority, would result in disruptions of transport and commuting activities. “We give our word that we would honor the 4-day period allocation. We shall hope that this matter is being seriously attended to with speed, precision, and efficiency,” the statement concluded.