NAB destroys Poppy plants worth Rs 1.90 Crores

IMPHAL, February 26: A combined team of Chandel district police and troops of 35 Assam rifle (E-coy) along with the Narcotics Affairs Border destroyed illicit poppy cultivations at two locations at Sajik Tampak areas under Chandel district from the 21st to 24 February 2013 according to  RK Bikramjit, OC Narcotic Affair Border (NAB) Imphal during a press conference held at the NAB office Imphal today morning.

Bikramjit said that after getting  specific information and under the supervision of the Superintendent of Police NAB Issak Shah, a combined team of Chandel police personal and 35 assam rifle E –coy personal went to the aforementioned area.   No one was arrested during the drive as there was no one present in the cultivation areas, he said.

He further said that the eradication and destruction of the poppy cultivations was carried out by the NAB officials in the insurgent torn area, destroying a total of 49 acres of land of illegal poppy cultivation. He added that 38 acres of illegal poppy cultivation was destroyed at Phaisi village and another 11 acres in the Hengmol area bothe village under the Chapkikarong police station, Chandel district.

He further said that the illegal poppy cultivation were found done on the foothills and slopes of the hillocks and as well as on the river bank.

The total illegal poppy plants destroyed would have given an estimated yield of around 490 kilograms (1 acres = 10 Kg) and the value of the  output would be Rs 1 Crore and ninety six lakhs, he said.

He also said that a FIR case have been taken up regarding the case of the illegal cultivation for further investigations.