Ukhrul: A joint team of Ukhrul Police, Ukhrul Forest Division, 6th Manipur Rifles, 35 Assam Rifles and volunteers of Tangkhul CSOs carried out destruction of poppy cultivation at Mapithel Hill Range, Kamjong District, Manipur under Litan Police Station on Monday.
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After climbing the steep hills for more than an hour, the joint team comprising of 141 persons carried out destruction of illicit poppy cultivation at the Mapithel Hill Range. Around 20 hectares area of poppy cultivation was destroyed and many huts and other infrastructures were burnt to ashes.
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The destruction of poppy cultivation in the Mapithel Hill Range under Litan Police Station will continue for 3 days informed SP of Ukhrul, Ningshem Vashum. “The team will continue the destruction of poppy cultivation for 3 days (upto November 23) and will try to cover maximum destruction of poppy cultivated areas. This is part of the Government’s drive on “War On Drugs”. Several warnings have been given to the villagers not to cultivate poppy, but this practices is going on at a very large scale in this hill ranges. We will continue this drive against poppy cultivation, until this illicit practices is eliminated from these district. Necessary legal action will be initiated” said Ningshem Vashum, SP of Ukhrul.
Due to the rough terrain and bad road, the vehicle could not climb the hill, the joint team had to carry grass cutter, sprayer, drinking water and other necessary equipments. With just a few gypsy and manpower at their disposal, the District Administration is facing a herculean task in carrying out destruction of poppy cultivation at Ukhrul and Kamjong Districts.
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Poppy plant which are ready for harvest was destroyed by using grass cutter and sticks and and roundup herbicides were sprayed to the newly mushrooming plant.
From 8 November 2023, destruction of poppy cultivation in Ukhrul and Kamjong Districts is being carried out by the joint team. Till date a total of 81 hectares area of poppy cultivation has been destroyed in Ukhrul and Kamjong area.
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