Agencies, March 31, 2025, Imphal : On March 29, 2025, Manipur Police arrested four individuals involved in illegal poppy cultivation in Kangpokpi District. The arrested persons have been identified as Janggoulen Kipgen (41), Letginlal Kipgen (41), Kamginlen Kipgen (25), and Thangminlen Kipgen (34). The arrests were made in connection with a case registered at Kangpokpi Police Station regarding the cultivation of poppy plants in Songjang village along the IT Road in the district, stated a source of Manipur police.
According to government records, as of December 2024, poppy cultivation illegally affected 45.68 square kilometers of forest area across nine districts in the state of Manipur. The largest area of illegal cultivation is in Kangpokpi District, which alone accounts for 17.49 square kilometers. Other districts impacted by poppy cultivation include Chandel, Churachandpur, Kamjong, Noney, Senapati, Tamenglong, Tengnoupal, and Ukhrul.
The poppy cultivation has spread across various forested areas in the state, with 3.47 square kilometers in Reserved Forests, 2.51 square kilometers in Proposed Reserved Forests, 19.24 square kilometers in Protected Forests, 0.06 square kilometers in Protected Areas (Wildlife), and 20.40 square kilometers in Unclassed Forests.
In response to the growing menace of illegal poppy cultivation, the Government of Manipur has taken several measures to counter the issue. These efforts include the destruction of 77.44 square kilometers of poppy plants by a combined team of Police, Forests, Narcotics and Affairs of Border (NAB), Manipur, and paramilitary forces. Between 2017 and 2023, the Manipur Police registered 2,351 cases related to poppy cultivation, leading to the arrest of 2,943 individuals under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, for various drug-related offenses.
The Forest Department of Manipur has also registered 43 FIRs against poppy cultivators, and efforts are underway to rehabilitate areas under poppy cultivation. So far, 142 hectares of land have been rehabilitated through afforestation initiatives. Additionally, the state has launched awareness and sensitization programs aimed at educating the public about the adverse effects of poppy cultivation on the environment, local communities, and the legal consequences involved.
These ongoing efforts by the Manipur government highlight its commitment to eradicating the illegal cultivation of poppy and addressing the associated challenges posed by drug abuse and environmental degradation.
