Itanagar, Jan 25: Security forces have destroyed poppy cultivation spread across eight acres of land in Arunachal Pradesh’s Longding district as part of an anti-narcotics drive, police said on January 25.
Longding Superintendent of Police Dekio Gumja said the illegal plantations were detected and eradicated at Votnu and Khasa villages near the India–Myanmar border. The operation was carried out on January 23 under the supervision of the Pangchau circle executive magistrate following a detailed survey of the area.
Despite difficult terrain, the destruction drive was completed smoothly through coordination with village authorities and by taking local residents into confidence, the SP said. Drones were deployed for aerial surveillance, enabling security teams to identify and locate the poppy fields effectively.
No cases were registered against the growers, as many villagers were reportedly unaware that poppy cultivation is illegal. Gumja said the focus would now shift to sensitising residents about the harmful effects of narcotics and promoting alternative and sustainable agricultural practices.
Officials noted that poppy cultivation in some border villages is often linked to tradition and self-consumption, stressing that sustained awareness campaigns would be crucial to curb the practice.
