Imphal (Manipur) [India], November 22 (HBTV): A clash broke out between the police, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and members of COCOMI (Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity), who were attempting to boycott the Sangai Festival.
The IDPs have been demanding their rehabilitation amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the state.
The Sangai Festival is an annual cultural and tourism event that showcases Manipur’s art, culture, food, and traditions through cultural performances, traditional games, and local food stalls.
Ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, which erupted in 2023, has resulted in hundreds of deaths and displaced more than 50,000 people.
Further details on the clash are awaited.
Meanwhile, based on specific intelligence regarding illicit poppy cultivation, the Assam Rifles on Thursday launched a joint operation with the Central Reserve Police Force and the Manipur Police in the general area of Songlung village in Kangpokpi district.
The operation began in the early hours and involved area domination and search efforts to identify pockets of illegal narcotics cultivation. During the operation, the joint team detected and destroyed about 10 acres of illicit poppy cultivation, along with three makeshift huts used for storage and processing.
The destroyed poppy fields had the potential to yield around 70 kilograms of opium worth multiple crores.
Conducted over challenging terrain and dense vegetation, the operation reflects the ongoing efforts of the Assam Rifles to curb illegal narcotics cultivation. Officials said the operation underscores the force’s commitment to ensuring a drug-free Northeast and contributing to peace, stability, and socio-economic development in the region.
Earlier, on November 16, the Assam Rifles destroyed about 25 acres of illicit poppy cultivation, which had the potential to yield over 170 kilograms of opium worth multiple crores of rupees. Acting on intelligence inputs, the Assam Rifles, along with the Central Reserve Police Force and the Manipur Police, launched a joint operation in the general area of Loibol Khullen in Kangpokpi district.
During the search and area domination exercise, the joint team identified the poppy fields. Conducted in challenging terrain and adverse weather conditions, the operation highlighted the force’s ongoing efforts to curb illicit narcotics cultivation and dismantle the financial networks that fuel insurgency and other unlawful activities. (ANI)