Sun Feb 02 16:38:00 IST 2025: ## Assam Police Destroy $3.3 Million Worth of Opium Poppies; Manipur CM Shows Support Amidst Ongoing Conflict

**GUWAHATI/IMPHAL, INDIA – February 2, 2025** – Assam Police have destroyed over 56 acres of illegal opium poppy cultivation valued at approximately Rs 27.2 crore ($3.3 million USD), prompting praise from Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh amid ongoing ethnic violence in his state.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the destruction of the poppy fields in Goalpara district on X (formerly Twitter), sharing a video of the operation and issuing a stern warning to drug cultivators. He referenced Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, stating, “Dear Local Pablo Escobars, sorry to spoil your planned *Udta* Assam party,” referencing the Bollywood film about drug addiction in Punjab.

Mr. Sarma emphasized the Assam Police’s commitment to combating drug cultivation, stating that the police destroyed the crops in January. The operation involved a significant police presence and the use of tractors to clear the fields.

In response, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh expressed his support and appreciation for Assam’s decisive action. Singh stated that both states are committed to a drug-free future for the Northeast and highlighted Manipur’s own efforts, including the destruction of over 25 acres of poppy fields in the Tengnoupal subdivision and the filing of a first information report (FIR). He also announced that another FIR was filed following an incident on Friday where a mob of approximately 80 people from the Kuki tribe disrupted a security team attempting to destroy illicit poppy cultivation in Kangpokpi district, damaging four vehicles.

However, the drug eradication efforts are occurring against the backdrop of intense ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur, which began in May 2023. The Kuki tribes have accused the Manipur government of targeting poor hill farmers while ignoring drug lords in Meitei-dominated areas – a claim the government refutes. The recent incidents highlight the complex challenges faced in tackling drug cultivation within the context of ongoing conflict.

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