In Manipur’s Kangpokpi district, security forces struck a major blow to the drug trade. On November 13, a joint operation by Assam Rifles, CRPF and Manipur Police destroyed about 25 acres of illicit poppy fields in the hilly Awlmun area. The crop could have produced roughly 190 kg of opium, valued at several crores of rupees, the defenders said.
The raid began early Wednesday morning and ran into the evening. In addition to the fields, the teams demolished eight huts where the poppies were processed and stored. “We cleared a large‑scale illicit cultivation that was ready to supply insurgent groups with money and drugs,” a defence spokesman told local media.
This operation is part of Manipur’s ongoing war against drugs. A few days earlier, on November 2, the same forces destroyed another 30 acres of illegal poppy fields in Kangchup district, taking out three farm huts, fertiliser bags and salt sacks; two burnt Gypsy vehicles were also found on the site.
The state government has long targeted poppy cultivation. In 2020, law‑enforcement agencies identified 8,057 acres of poppy fields; out of those, 1,695 acres were destroyed. Over the following years, security forces continued the push, cutting down hundreds of acres. By 2024‑25, the total area of known poppy fields fell sharply, showing the success of a multi‑pronged strategy that includes raids, legal action, and community outreach.
Officials say the ethnic unrest in Manipur and the rising drug problem feed each other. “Poppy cultivation is a key profit source for criminal networks that also support insurgent and anti‑national activities,” a senior state official noted.
Assam Rifles have adopted a zero‑tolerance stance on narcotics. “We keep the law firm when it comes to defaulters, whether they are growers or financiers,” the defence spokesman added. He stressed that the operations on the India‑Myanmar border demonstrate the force’s commitment to stabilising the area and protecting citizens from the dangers of drug trafficking.
With each raid, the security forces move closer to eradicating poppy farms and disrupting the drug supply chain that threatens Manipur’s peace and security.
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