In a significant crackdown on illegal narcotics and insurgent activity, security forces and the Ukhrul district Forest Department successfully cleared massive tracts of poppy cultivation in Manipur’s hill districts on Wednesday, December 17. The joint operation focused on several key locations, including the LM Block, Yaolen Chepu, and Lamlai Chingphei areas of Ukhrul district. During the sweep, officials identified and destroyed approximately 140 acres of illegal poppy plantations, marking a substantial blow to local drug production.
As part of the clearance drive, the task force also targeted infrastructure supporting the illicit trade. Security personnel set fire to 16 makeshift huts discovered at the plantation sites, which were believed to have been used by workers and cultivators. Authorities emphasized that these actions are part of a continuous strategy to disrupt the narcotics trade and dismantle the networks that profit from illegal drug cultivation in the region.
Parallel to the operations in the hills, security forces conducted a separate mission on December 16 that led to the arrest of an active cadre from the proscribed group SOREPA. The individual, identified as 31-year-old Khundrakpam Bitanjit Meitei, alias Tomcha, was apprehended in the Lamding Nashikhong Leikai area under the Thoubal Police Station’s jurisdiction. A resident of Heirok Part-II, Laimayum, Meitei was found in possession of a mobile phone and a SIM card, both of which were seized by authorities.
These combined efforts in Ukhrul and Thoubal districts reflect the ongoing commitment of state security forces and district departments to address both illegal drug manufacturing and the presence of banned outfits. By targeting both the economic roots of the drug trade and active members of insurgent groups, officials aim to bolster security and stability across the state.
