Manipur CM warns to terminate government official involving in illegal drug trafficking

Imphal: Any government officials who are found involved in drugs related illegal activities will be terminated from their service and will be put behind bars, Manipur chief minister N.Biren Singh said on Saturday.

The chief minister said this as Saikul Saikul Assembly Constituency (AC) villages extended their support to Biren government’s War on Drugs.

A delegation team consisting of village chiefs of Saikul AC led by MLA Kimneo Haokip Hangshing submitted a resolution to Biren expressing their support to the government’s War on Drugs campaign.

The resolution signed by chiefs of 50 villages stated that they had deliberated at length about poppy cultivation and resolved to put immediate hold on poppy cultivation in Saikul AC. They also resolved to approach the government to arrange alternative means for livelihood. The resolution said any individuals or groups who defied the resolution should, at their own risk, face any legal action taken by concerned authority.

Biren told reporters that many communities had come up one after another in support of the War on Drugs campaign considering the ill effects of poppy cultivation on the environment and future generations of the state. He expressed appreciation to the village chiefs of Saikul for being the first among the Kuki community to boldly declare their stand against poppy cultivation. He also informed that Kuki brethrens residing in other areas of the state had contacted him on their support to the movement against drug menace.

The chief minister assured that arrangements for alternative livelihood would be taken up soon consulting the horticulture and tribal affairs and hills department adding that the government would provide all necessary support.

Taking concern on a memorandum submitted by the delegation team, Biren assured to set up a veterinary hospital soon at Saikul and also to construct a mini-stadium within the Assembly Constituency. He further expressed that he would look into what could be done on other matters mentioned in the memorandum.

He appealed to all communities residing in valley areas to voluntarily come out and support the movement against drug menace, to totally eradicate it from the state.

Tribal affairs and hills minister Letpao Haokip expressed his appreciation to the delegation team of Saikul AC for their support to the War on Drugs campaign and their resolution to immediately hold on poppy cultivation in the AC. He assured to provide every possible support for alternative livelihood from the Government side. He appealed to people of other areas to support the movement to save the state from drugs.

President of Kuki Inpi, Saikul Seimang Lupho and other village chiefs took part in submitting the resolution among others.