Imphal/Guwahati:
The head of a prominent cookie body in Manipur faced legal action after a mob, when he tried to destroy illegal opium pope fields in Kangpokpi district of Manipur on 31 January.
The Manipur government in a statement said in a statement that a team of the State Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to destroy illegal poppy plantation in the hill border of Lungjang village in Kangpokpi district, 40 km from the state capital Imphal. Was taken, when they were facing by a large crowd armed with sticks.
Lohangjung is the original village of Azang Khongsai, the head of Cookie Inpi, the government said.
“An FIR (first information report) has been filed at the Cycul police station to further investigate the incident. The government takes the incident very seriously and condemns crowd violence in the strongest words. Strict legal action will be taken against.
Cookie INPI is an organization that has supported the demand by cookie leaders and terrorists under suspension of the operation (SOO) agreement for a separate administration out of Manipur.
“Operation targeted a large path to the land used for poppy cultivation, which has been identified as a major source for the production of illegal opium. Applying the laws of officials and drugs in the area Despite the clear intentions of the authorities to deal with the danger, the government met with violent protest, “the government said in the statement.
Also read Ananya: End of poppy cultivation soon in Manipur? Satellite shows imagery data …
“A large crowd equipped with sticks collected at the site, prevent forcibly operation. Taking advantage of a limited number of police personnel, the mob barbaric three police vehicles and threatened the personnel to stop the destruction drive. The situation quickly rose, and the reinforcement team led by A SP (Superintendent of Police) reached the spot to control the Congress and restore the order and ensure the continuity of the destruction drive.
Kangpokpi SP, Manoj Prabhakar, is an Indian Police Service Officer who faced a gush on his forehead during protests by members of the cookie tribes on January 3, protesters tried to stop security forces from eliminating bunkers on the hills. of. On December 31, several women of the cookie tribes were injured with security forces on hilltops when the forces went to remove the bunkers. A woman lost her eyes.
The Manipur government said that the joint team eventually managed to destroy 45 acres of illegal poppy cultivation.
On Sunday, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biran Singh said on X that more than 25 acres of poppy cultivation has been destroyed in Tangnupal district.
“I appreciate the coordinated efforts of the Tangnupal District Police, BSF, AR, Reserve Line Teams, Forest Department and Executive Magistrate in dealing with these illegal activities,” said Mr. Singh.
Major Crackdown: 25+ acres of poppy cultivation was destroyed in Tangnaupal
As part of our acute war on the drugs mission, more than 25 acres of illegal pope gardens were successfully destroyed in the Khudi Hill Range, Tenganapal subdivision today. A cedar has been registered … pic.twitter.com/cn3sxfauei
– N. Biren Singh (@nbirensingh) 2 February, 2025
Earlier, Mr. Singh reached his counterpart in neighboring Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, in a show of assistance to the Assam Police to destroy illegal opium pope cultivation worth more than Rs 27 crore. In Golpara, Assam, the police destroyed the population plantation of 170 bighas (more than 56 acres) in January, Mr. Sarma said in a post on X on Sunday.
My deep praise for decisive measures taken in Assam under the leadership of Honorable Chief Minister Mr. @Himantabiswa G, in addressing the challenges caused by Poppi cultivation.
We are standing together and firm in our shared goals of future building … https://t.co/g3xl4hyQPF
– N. Biren Singh (@nbirensingh) 2 February, 2025
The Manipur Valley is experiencing ethnic violence among the Mitei community and more than a dozen different tribes are collectively known as cookie, which are prominent in some mountainous regions of the state. Both communities have been fighting on many issues such as land rights and political representation since May 2023.
The cookie tribes have alleged that the Biren Singh government targeted poor farmers in the hills, who do not have other sources of income and have ignored the role of drug Lords living in the Valley areas of Meteyi-Search.
The Manipur government has denied the allegations and no community was excluded in the ‘war on war’ campaign of the state.
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