Manipur police team walks for hours to raze poppy farms, retreats after facing '90 armed men'

Imphal/New Delhi: In a shocking incident, a police team in Manipur narrowly escaped unhurt after facing nearly 80 armed men during an operation to destroy illegal opium cultivation. 

The incident happened in the hills of Kangpokpi district. The police team walked for three hours to reach the remote location but were unable to complete the mission. According to the First Information Report (FIR) accessed by NDTV, the police team, reportedly lacking adequate firearms and ammunition, was forced to retreat after encountering around 80-90 armed miscreants. As a result, the team was unable to clear the illegal poppy farms and had to withdraw. 

The police team consisted of 25 personnel, along with volunteers from a local tribe and five drivers. The team carried only three assault rifles, as it is a physically demanding task to destroy poppy farms with farm tools, a source told NDTV. The team had no choice but to withdraw when the armed miscreants attempted to snatch the few firearms they had.

According to local media reports, a group of nomads is brazenly exploiting the current situation in Manipur to cultivate poppy plants in Makhan village, located in Kangpokpi. The cultivation is said to cover 500 hectares in the Kongbru hill range.