Imphal: In a significant step towards eradicating illegal drug cultivation, a joint team of Manipur Police, Forest Department, and Assam Rifles destroyed approximately 70 acres of poppy fields in Ukhrul district on December 16, 2023.
The operation, conducted across three villages – Phalee, Tora, and Champhung under the Lungchong Maiphei police station area, also resulted in the destruction of 13 huts used by cultivators.
Authorities have launched an investigation to identify the individuals responsible for the illegal cultivation and have registered an FIR in this regard. This comes just a week after a similar operation led to the destruction of 55 acres of poppy fields in Shihai Khullen, also in Ukhrul district.
Since 2017, the Manipur government has made substantial progress in eradicating illegal poppy cultivation, with a total of 19,135.6 acres destroyed across 12 districts. Kangpokpi district witnessed the highest destruction of 4,454.4 acres, followed by Ukhrul with 3,348 acres and Churachandpur with 2,713.8 acres, as per a report utilizing remote sensing and GIS technology.
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