Rally supporting War on Drugs staged at Imphal

Imphal: Supporting the present government’s ‘Wat on Drugs’ campaign, Kanglei People Against Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances (KANGLEI PANAS) along with ex-members of All Manipur Anti-Drug Association (AMADA) staged a one day ‘Sougat-Meepham’ (support sit-in rally) at community hall of Keishampat Leimajam Leikai, Imphal West on Friday.

Secretary general, Kanglei PANAS Mayai Loishang, Wahaj Fundrei told reporters that political parties and others should not waste time debating on ‘War on Drugs’. The present government should create a “Poppy Eradication Force” along with concerned government officials and civil society organisations.

He said AMADA had been taking various initiatives on eradication of drugs and other illicit elements from the soil of Manipur since 2005 till 2014. And during the period AMADA along with central forces destroyed around 750 acres of poppy plants at Nongmaiching; Thawai Mapithel; Singhat, Churachandpur district which was approximately worth around Rs 50 crore as per market value of the period. AMADA also destroyed a mobile poppy manufacturing unit and destroyed around Rs 52 crores of drugs, he added.

During the period AMADA had claimed that drugs is giving a major impact to the then society. “In connection with the claimed made by AMADA, the then government arrested 18 members of the association. Due to lack of support from the then government, the association was dissolved in 2014,” he added.

Wahaj said poppy cultivation could have been eradicated if the movement of AMADA continued till date. He appealed the people to support ‘War on Drugs’ campaign instead of creating an issue that could mislead the campaign.

He said similar demonstration will be organised at different places supporting the War on Drugs campaign.