Udta Assam Party Spoiled! Police Destroy Poppy Worth Rs 27 Crores, Assam CM Shares Video; Manipur CM Praises

Manipur's Chief Minister, N Biren Singh on Sunday responded to Assam CM Hemanta Biswa Sarma's post and extended support in fight against drugs. He said, we are together in this. Recently, a crop of illegal poppy was destroyed in Goalpara worth Rs 27 crores.

According to the reports, Assam Police destroyed 170 bighas of poppy plantations. A video of the action was shared by Assam Chief Minister on micro-blogging site X (formerly known as twitter).

The video shows a tractor ploughing through poppy fields under police supervision.

He captioned the video stating: "Dear Local Pablo Escobars, sorry to spoil your planned Udta Assam party." The 'Udta Assam' term was taken from title of a Bollywood film Udta Punjab based on usage of drugs.

Dear Local Pablo Escobars,

Sorry to spoil your planned Udta Assam party!

Because @Goalpara_Police destroyed 170 Bighas of poppy cultivation in the Char areas worth ₹27.20 crore in January.

So next time you think of drugs, think of @assampolice first.#AssamAgainstDrugs pic.twitter.com/JPt9IoxsKJ

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) February 2, 2025

Joint Efforts Against Drug Menace

Manipur's CM N Biren Singh highlighted the importance of collaboration between states to tackle drug problems.

"My deep appreciation for the decisive measures taken in Assam, under the leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma ji in addressing the challenges posed by cultivation of poppy. We stand together and remain resolute in our shared goal of building a future where every youth of the NE [northeast] is protected, nurtured, and given the opportunity to thrive free from the shadow of drugs," he stated.

In Manipur, over 25 acres of illegal poppy plantations were destroyed in Tengnoupal subdivision's Khudei Khullen hill range. An FIR was filed following this operation. The state's ongoing 'war on drugs' campaign has faced criticism from some quarters.

Community Tensions and Allegations

Ethnic violence has been a significant issue in Manipur since May 2023. The Meitei community and Kuki tribes have clashed over land rights and political representation. The Kuki tribes accused Mr Singh's government of targeting poor farmers while ignoring drug lords in Meitei areas.

A recent incident saw around 80 people from Kuki tribes confronting security forces during an operation against illegal poppy cultivation in Kangpokpi district. Four vehicles were damaged during this confrontation, prompting authorities to file an FIR.