As a part of the activities carried out under the War on Drugs, a team of Machi police arrested a poppy cultivation financier from Heirok Part III, Ngarouthel, Thoubal district on Saturday.
The arrested person has been identified as one Ningthoujam Jiban Singh, 46, son of late Ningthoujam Seityaban Singh from Heirok Part III, Ngarouthel, Thoubal district.
Police said that Jiban was arrested while Machi police were conducting an operation to nab those poppy cultivators who failed to turn up at the police station after they were summoned on February 2. The poppy cultivators were summoned in connection with the poppy cultivation found at T Boljang village which falls under the jurisdiction of the same police station.
Police said on January 9 at around 2.30 pm a team of Machi police arrested one Damkhoning Haokip, 45, wife of (late) Thangkhojam Haokip from T Boljang village and Nemneilhing Haokip, 44, daughter of Otkholun Haokip from Tollen village.
From their disclosure, police arrested one Ningthoujam Jadumani, 65, son of (late) N Amujao from Shalungpham Mamang Leikai at around 10.30 pm on January 10. He was arrested for giving financial assistance on poppy cultivation, police said.
As a part of the investigation of the case, a team of Machi police assisted by a team of Heirok police station arrested Jiban while conducting search operation at Heirok Part III, Ngarouthel at around 1.30 pm.
On questioning, Jiban disclosed that he gave a sum of Rs 80,000 to Damkhoning Haokip, who was arrested on January 9 from T Boljang village. He gave the money to Damkhoning in June 2020 for utilisation in poppy cultivation, police said.
In connection with the mass poppy cultivation found in the hill areas under the jurisdiction of Henjang village, T Molphei village, SL Zougam village, Tollen village and T Bolzang village, Machi police on January 19 summoned 15 persons from these villages, including village chiefs, village secretaries and poppy cultivators.
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