IMPHAL: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Thursday said that 412 FIRs were lodged and 87 people arrested in the last seven years in connection with illegal poppy cultivation in the state.
The figures were provided in response to a query by Manipur Congress MLA Th Lokeshwor during the ongoing session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly.
The chief minister said altogether 16,788 acres of illegal poppy cultivation were destroyed between 2017 and 2024.
“From 2017 to 2024, 412 FIRs were registered for illegal poppy cultivation. Eighty-seven people, including 16 village chiefs, were also arrested from January 2017 to July 2024,” CM Singh said in a written reply.
In a related discussion, Manipur Congress MLA K Ranjit inquired about the status of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement.
CM Singh revealed that the agreement, a tripartite pact involving the central government, the Manipur government, and multiple Kuki militant groups, has not been extended since February 29, 2024.
The SoO pact was signed by the Centre, the Manipur government and two conglomerates of Kuki militant outfits – Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United People’s Front (UPF). The pact was signed in 2008 and extended periodically thereafter.
However, in March 2023, the Manipur government withdrew from the pact due to “unwanted activities” by the militant groups, and this decision was communicated to the central government. Since then, the pact has not been extended.
As part of the SoO pact, a Joint Monitoring Group (JMG), comprising representatives of central and state government agencies, the KNO and UPF, was formed to oversee adherence to the ground rules.
Singh also said, “The SoO is for bringing peace by the central government and the Manipur government cannot interfere much in it.”
