UKHRUL, Dec 10: The Manipur Police, in collaboration with the forest department, destroyed approximately 55 acres of illegal poppy cultivation in the hill range of Shihai Khullen in Ukhrul district. The operation, carried out on Monday, also involved the burning of five huts found on the poppy fields, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday.
An investigation has been initiated to identify those responsible for the illegal plantation, the statement said.
The Manipur government has made significant strides in curbing illegal poppy cultivation since 2017. According to an official report, a total of 19,135.6 acres of poppy fields have been destroyed across 12 districts of the state during this period.
The largest area of poppy fields destroyed was in Kangpokpi district, where 4,454.4 acres were eradicated, followed by 3,348 acres in Ukhrul and 2,713.8 acres in Churachandpur. These figures are part of the findings from the study Mapping and Estimation of Opium Poppy Cultivation Area Using Remote Sensing and GIS Technology.
The crackdown on poppy cultivation aligns with the state government’s intensified efforts to combat drug-related activities. Recently, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh highlighted a reduction of 50-60% in poppy cultivation, attributing the success to the joint efforts of the police and central forces.
