As a part of the government’s anti-drug programme, a joint team of Churachandpur District Police along with NAB, 1st IRB and district administration conducted an ‘anti-poppy cultivation drive’ at Sangaikot sub-division and destroyed approximately 10 acres of poppy cultivated lands, followed filing of an FIR at the concerned police station.
The drive that conducted on Wednesday was led by additional SP (Ops) of Churachandpur, Lorence K Munuo along with SDC Jangminlen Luphong, subedar Ginkhanlal Guite from 1st IRB, and SI Hitler Meetei from NAB.
SP of Churachandpur, Amrita Sinha informed that the drive to destroy poppy plantations will continue in Churachandpur district.
Meanwhile in Kangpokpi, non-SoO Kuki militant outfit, Socialist Democratic Front of Kukiland (SDFK) strongly opposed the destruction of poppy cultivation in the hill districts, which are mainly in Kuki inhabited areas without providing any suitable alternative to the people.
Information and Publicity secretary of the outfit, S Kuki said that SDFK vehemently condemned the action initiated by chief minister N Biren for inciting the state force in destroying the poppy plants cultivated in the Kuki inhabited areas without putting in place a suitable alternative for their livelihood. The action has destroyed the main source of livelihood of the people in the areas, he added.
“Since 71 years of India’s Independence, what has the government done for the development and economic stability for the hill people? Has the state government set up any industry, godown or any factory in the hills, so that the people would work and survive?” Kuki questioned.
He further questioned that “Did Biren-led government give any financial package for the poor cultivators? What changes did the ‘Go to Village’ mission in the hills bring?”
Poppy cultivation is the last resort for economic sustainability of the people in hills because of the untold negligence of developments in the hills and the absence of alternative sources of livelihood, he added.
He continued that the state government should first prepare a suitable alternative arrangement for financial stability of the cultivators before destroying the poppy cultivations. Poppy eradication cannot be succeeded in the hills without viable economic alternatives as many rural households are dependent on its farming, he added.
Meanwhile, the outfit also stated that it will strongly confront until their last breath, the pre-planning land encroachment policies by N Biren Singh and his government to demarcate every poppy cultivated area as revenue land.
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