Kanglei People Against Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances (KANGLEI PANAS) along with Ex-members of the All Manipur Anti-Drug Association (AMADA) conducted a one-day ‘Sougat-Meepham’ in support of the state government’s ‘War on Drugs’ campaign at the community hall of Keishampat Leimajam Leikai, Imphal West on Friday.
Secretary general, Kanglei PANAS Mayai Loishang Wahaj Fundrei told the media on the sidelines of the protest that political parties and others should not waste time on debating the effectiveness of the ‘War on Drugs’ campaign. Instead, a ‘Poppy Eradication Force’ should be created with the participation of government officials and civil society organisations, he said.
He said AMADA had been taking various initiatives on eradicating drugs and other illicit elements from the soil of Manipur from 2005 to 2014. During the period, AMADA along with Central forces destroyed around 750 acres of poppy plants at Nongmaiching, Thawai Mapithel, Singhat, Churachandpur district which was approximately worth around Rs 50 crore as per market value of the period, he mentioned. AMADA also destroyed a mobile poppy manufacturing unit and destroyed around Rs 52 crores of drugs, he added.
During the period, AMADA claimed that drugs gave a major impact to society. In connection with the claims made by AMADA, the then government arrested 18 members of the association. Due to the lack of support from the then government, the association was dissolved in 2014, he added.
Wahaj asserted that poppy cultivation could have been eradicated if the movement of AMADA continued till date. He appealed to the people to support ‘War on Drugs’ campaign instead of creating issues that could mislead the public regarding the overall goal to end the drugs menace in the state.
He further said that similar ‘sougat meepham’ will be organised in different places in support of the ‘War on Drugs’ campaign.
