Imphal, Sept 3: Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has issued a stark warning on the escalating drug menace in the state, saying that the spread of poppy cultivation is fuelling addiction and narcotics trafficking that threatens India’s youth and social stability.
In a social media post on September 2, Singh expressed anguish over what he described as Manipur’s transformation from a land of resilience and natural beauty into a hotspot for poppy cultivation. “It breaks my heart to see my state Manipur, a land of strength, fall into the grip of drugs. The shifting of the Golden Triangle towards India has brought a dangerous transformation, especially for my state,” he said.
He highlighted that the BJP-led government’s “War on Drugs” had earlier achieved significant success, with widespread destruction of poppy fields, prosecution of offenders, and rising public awareness creating hope among citizens. However, Singh warned that after the ethnic violence that broke out on May 3, 2023, cartels exploited weakened enforcement to revive large-scale cultivation in the hill districts.
Citing photographic evidence from villages in Kangpokpi and Ukhrul districts including Challengbung, Chingphei, Sangkai, and Yoleng, Singh said the fresh expansion of cultivation revealed the alarming scale of the crisis.
Calling the situation a grave threat that must be uprooted before it consumes all of us, the former chief minister urged authorities to confront the menace with an iron hand. He also appealed to the national media to conduct ground surveys to expose the reality on the ground and pressed the central government to extend stronger support.
He stressed that Manipur cannot fight the battle alone, adding that collective action is vital to safeguard the country’s youth and achieve the goal of a “Nasha Mukt Bharat” (drug-free India).
