314 Kgs of drugs valued at Rs 39.98 Cr disposed

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 25 : Chief Minister N Biren today disposed of 314.471 Kgs of drugs valued at Rs 39,98,71,600 by setting them ablaze at the Shija Hospital’s Bio-Medical Waste Treatment Facility (Incineration), Lamdeng.
The drugs disposed of today included 9.8 Kgs of heroin powder, 244.809 Kgs of brown sugar, 26.239 Kgs of WY tablets, 661 grams of SP capsules, 693 grams of N-10 tablets, 505 grams of pseudoephedrine tablets and 32.20 Kgs of ganja.
Speaking to media persons after disposing of the drugs, Chief Minister N Biren stated that a War on Drugs was launched in 2017 soon after an NDA Government led by BJP was formed in the State.
At the National level, a Nasha Mukt Bharat campaign has been going on at the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Biren said that the War on Drugs was launched to save youths, the future pillars of the Nation, from the jaws of drugs.    
The War on Drugs is also aimed at safeguarding Manipur and all the North Eastern States from the drug menace, he said.
Apart from destroying several acres of poppy plantation, the BJP Government has so far seized drugs worth Rs 70,000 crore and around 200 persons have been convicted out of 2000-3000 people pulled in connection with drugs, the Chief Minister said.
He said that the War on Drugs met with strong resistance, severe criticism and even death threats to police personnel.
Undeterred by such challenges and threats, the Government and the police have been carrying on the War of Drugs campaign, Biren said.
Many keen observers have already pointed out that the State Government’s War on Drugs is one of the major root causes of the violent crisis which erupted on May 3, 2023, and this is known at the National level, he said.
He maintained that drugs seized by law enforcing agencies are burnt and destroyed every year since the BJP Government came to power.
The State Government will never compromise on the issue of drugs and all those found guilty for smuggling drugs would be awarded befitting punishment as per law, Biren said.
The Chief Minister also vowed that his Government would make every effort to eradicate poppy plantation from Manipur.
He said that destruction of poppy plantations has been going on at Kangchup, Churachandpur, Ukhrul, Kangpokpi etc.
At the same time, some drug mafias, taking undue advantage of the current crisis and the resulting law and order situation, have been carrying out massive poppy plantations in some hill areas.
An aerial survey carried out from a helicopter a few days back found poppy plantations at Saikul, IT Road and Litan area of Ukhrul, Biren said.
Drug dealers and poppy planters have not yet stopped issuing threats even today. Despite all the efforts of the Government, these people have been adamantly continuing with their business of poppy plantation and smuggling drugs, he remarked.
The Government is also determined to continue its crackdown on drug dealers and destruction of poppy plantations. The Government will never retreat from  the war of drugs and poppy plantation until the menace is completely rooted out, Biren added.
As a part of the State Government’s War on Drugs, CRPF, BSF, Army, Assam Rifles, State force and Forest Department have been carrying out an extensive drive against poppy plantation and drugs, he said.
The Chief Minister also sought people’s cooperation and support to the Government’s drive against poppy plantation.
Due process is underway to send some drug users and peddlers pulled up from North AOC a few days back to rehabilitation centres, he continued.
He announced that an amount of around Rs 5 crore has been sanctioned for construction of a rehabilitation centre at Ukhrul.
He went on to claim that the number of drug addicts has come down considerably in the State. Ministers Th Biswajit, Dr Sapam Ranjan, Khashim Vashum, H Dingo, Th Basantakumar, MLAs Kh Ibomcha, LDA Chairman M Asnikumar, the DGP and the Commissioner (Home) were also present at the drug disposal event.