Manipur CM rewards police with Rs 15 lakh for busting narcotics factory

IMPHAL: Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh yesterday announced a cash reward of Rs 15 lakh to police commandos of the state’s Thoubal district for busting a narcotics drug manufacturing factory at Lilong.

 

He had recently offered a reward of Rs. 20 lakh to some villagers who had volunteered to cut down standing verdant poppy plants in the mountains.

 

“When it comes to the future of the young generation, the government would appreciate such actions. If miscreants are identified, we will prosecute them. We want to associate with people from all sections of society. We would not have been able to accomplish so much without the aid of the public,” said CM Biren Singh.

 

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According to reports, thousands of poppy plants, which are used to produce brown sugar and heroin, have been destroyed so far by police and other forces. Police and paramilitary forces in the Thoubal and Churachandpur districts recently destroyed two such illegal factories each.

 

Superintendent of Police, Thoubal, S. Ibomcha, said that they have declared a war against drugs. They have seized over 1,000 kg of heroin, brown sugar, opium, chemicals, other ingredients, and accessories for manufacturing drugs from the illegal drug factory in Lilong on March 7.

 

Earlier, the Thoubal district police had seized drugs worth over Rs 400 crores and apprehended one foreigner, said to be a drug baron.

 

Manipur is situated near the golden triangle, and officials say that the border state has long been a gateway for drug trafficking in the north-east.