Manipur Chief M inister N Biren Singh on Monday called upon all the communities of the state to come forward and support the ‘War on Dugs’ mission to eradicate poppy plantation and drug menace from the state.
Apex bodies of Tangkhul community, including Tangkhul Wongnao Long (TWL), Tangkhul Shanao Long (TSL), Tangkhul Katamnao Long (TKL), Tangkhul Chief Association (TCA), and Churches Leaders on Monday called on the chief minister at his secretariat in Imphal and gave their commitment and affirmation to participate in the CM’s declaration of war on drugs.
Speaking to the media, Biren stated that the state is getting negative impact due to poppy cultivation in terms of mass destruction of forest and biodiversity, contamination of soil and water and easy access to drugs by the youths.
Expressing ferocity on the people who are indulging in illicit drug related business and poppy cultivators, he said, “They are the real enemy of the society. Stringent punishment will be given to those involved in such illicit business.”
“Any untoward incident in an attempt to nab the drug peddlers by the police will be a loss for all,” the chief minister added in the form of warning.
As a mechanism of waging war on drugs in Ukhrul and Kamjong district, two separate committees headed by an IAS officer had been formed to guide the civil groups in the movement, he informed.
Lauding the Tangkhul community for taking the bold and courageous steps to support the war on drugs, Biren said, “Now, I am very much confident that the war on drugs will be successful with a great victory.”
Concerning the frequent changes of villages by some groups after deforesting the whole area, the chief minister appealed to immediately stop such destruction of forest and shifting of villages by encroaching the state forest land.
President of TSL, Thingreiphi, who accompanied the chief minister during the press briefing, stated that poppy plantation is an act against humanity and Indian law.
The drug culture going on in the state is an act of ravaging war against the society which needs utmost intervention to curb it, she said, appealing to all the Tangkhul inhabited villagers to impose stringent law to eradicate the drug related issues.
Assuring to take up intensive social mobilisation at the local level from the Tangkhul-based CSOs and groups to curb the drug issues, she cautioned that those involved in illicit drug business will be addressed as per the law of the land.
According to the apex bodies of Tangkhul community, there are around 2,500 Tangkhul villages inhabited in the state and total area of poppy cultivation taken up in Kamjong and Ukhrul districts is above 4,000 hectares.
Earlier on Saturday, the Poumai community (second largest Naga community) had given their stance to help in eradicating poppy plantations from the state.
