50 acres of illegal poppy cultivation destroyed in Manipur's Ukhrul

NEW DELHI: Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh announced the destruction of 50 acres of illegal poppy cultivation in Ukhrul district's Mullam Kuki village. Four huts found on the fields were burned down, and an investigation is underway to find those responsible.

"Our dedicated forces, comprising Ukhrul district police, 6th Manipur Rifles, Army, and the Forest Department, successfully carried out an operation to destroy the illegal poppy cultivation in Mullam Kuki village hill range under the Litan Police Station (limits). A total of 50 acres of poppy plantations were destroyed, and four illicit huts were set ablaze," CM posted on X.
An FIR has been registered, and the investigation is ongoing. Commending the team’s work, CM said, "I commend the combined efforts of the team for their dedication to the ongoing war on drugs. Let us stand united in this fight to reclaim our hills, our values, and our dignity. Together, we will build a Manipur free from the shadow of drugs."
This follows earlier actions in the same district, where 70 acres of illegal poppy cultivation were destroyed in December, and 55 acres were removed last month in Shihai Khullen.
According to official, since 2017, the Manipur government has destroyed over 19,135 acres of illegal poppy fields in 12 districts, with Kangpokpi leading at 4,454 acres, followed by Ukhrul with 3,348 acres and Churachandpur with 2,713 acres.