Chief Minister Biren Singh praised the security forces for their unwavering efforts in advancing the state’s War on Drugs campaign.
BY PC Bureau
A mob of around 80 Kuki-zo men and women confronted security personnel on Friday during an anti-poppy operation in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district, damaging four vehicles, police said. The incident occurred in the Lhungjang hill range, where CRPF and police teams had gone to destroy illegal opium poppy cultivation.
“Four light vehicles were damaged, mostly the front windshields. The mob was controlled with minimal force, and reinforcements were called in to resume the poppy destruction,” police stated.
🚨BREAKING | #Kukis in Saikul area Launch Violent Resistance, Attack CRPF and Police Over Poppy Destruction.
Translation :
Early this morning, acting on the orders of the “Dog” N. Biren Singh, the Manipur Police of Saikul, along with the CRPF, came to destroy our poppy (Kani)… pic.twitter.com/0YgHqKPexJ— Homer_Alt (@Gooner_Homer) January 31, 2025
Chief Minister N. Biren Singh commended the forces for their efforts in the poppy eradication drive. “In a significant blow to drug cartels, security forces destroyed 45 acres of illicit poppy plantations in Kangpokpi today. The operation was led by Kangpokpi District Police, CRPF, and an Executive Magistrate in the Lhungjang hill range under Saikul Police Station,” he said, in post on X. Hpowever, he didn’t without mention about the mob’s attempt to block the operation.
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“FIRs have been lodged for further action. I commend our security forces and officials for their relentless efforts as we push forward in the War on Drugs with full determination,” he added.
Reports indicated that locals, including women, blocked roads leading to the poppy fields in Lhungjang village and damaged a police vehicle in their attempt to obstruct the operation.
The Manipur Police, in collaboration with central security forces, has been actively conducting anti-drug operations across the state as part of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s “War on Drugs” campaign.
Kuki villager in the Saikul area have launched a violent resistance against the authorities, targeting CRPF and police personnel in retaliation for the destruction of poppy crops.
⁕ Details are emerging, and we will provide more information as it becomes available… pic.twitter.com/H5zYaZnU52
— Poknapham / The People’s Chronicle (@PoknaphamNews) January 31, 2025
Over the past few weeks, the police and security agencies have destroyed hundreds of acres of illicit poppy plantations spread across the districts of Kangpokpi, Churachandpur, Ukhrul, and Senapati. The operations often involve coordinated efforts by the state police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), and district magistrates.
Despite facing resistance from locals who sometimes rely on poppy cultivation for livelihood, the state government has maintained a firm stance, emphasizing the long-term harm posed by illegal drug networks and environmental degradation caused by poppy cultivation.
The anti-drug drive has intensified in recent weeks with law enforcement agencies employing drone surveillance and advanced mapping techniques to locate hidden poppy fields.
