Security forces in Manipur have executed a significant blow against illegal narcotics production by destroying 119 acres of poppy cultivation in Ukhrul district on December 18. This latest operation highlights an intensified state-wide crackdown aimed at eradicating drug manufacturing in the region’s sensitive hill areas. The mission specifically targeted the LM Block, Yaolen Chepu, and the Lamlai Chingphei area, where specialized teams worked to systematically clear expansive fields of the illicit crop.
Beyond the destruction of the crops themselves, the security teams dismantled the physical infrastructure supporting the illegal trade. During the December 18 sweep, 24 huts located within the plantation sites were set ablaze and destroyed. Official reports indicate that these structures served as essential operational bases and quarters for the cultivators and laborers tasked with maintaining the illegal poppy fields. The removal of these dwellings is viewed as a critical step in disrupting the logistical support and habitation required for narcotics production in the district.
This large-scale intervention followed a similar coordinated drive conducted just twenty-four hours earlier, demonstrating a relentless pace of enforcement. On December 17, Manipur security forces joined ranks with the Ukhrul district Forest Department to identify and eliminate approximately 140 acres of poppy plantations across the same strategic locations. That previous operation also involved the burning of 16 makeshift huts, marking a two-day period of high-intensity activity that has significantly reduced the footprint of illegal agriculture in the area.
Authorities have emphasized that these back-to-back operations represent a sustained and resolute effort by the state government to dismantle narcotics networks and curb illegal drug cultivation. By targeting the hill districts, where cultivation often hides in remote terrain, the administration seeks to break the cycle of production and commerce that fuels the narcotics trade in Manipur. These consecutive actions underscore a broader commitment to maintaining law and order while aggressively disrupting the networks linked to illegal drugs.
