Illegal poppy plantations destroyed

Our Correspondent
Itagar, February 10: Continuing with the crusade against opium addiction, the members of Upper Siang Women Welfare Society, in presence of magistrate Pandav Perme, CO Katan and police personnel headed by Atan Taki, OC Yingkiong PS, conducted opium destruction operation at Sibuk, Sikko, Bine and Damro covering several poppy cultivation area mely Lileng, Mopom, Mosut, Pone, Rane, Sireng, Sipong area on February 7 and 8 last.
During the operation the women activists destroyed huge quantities of flowering poppy plants before harvest, an official release informed.
29 numbers of police personnel, few ALCs, 50-60 numbers of women activists participated in the major operation. During the destruction a few owners opposed the operation team to protect the poppy plants from destruction. Some manhandled police personnel, two women active members Neyang Sitek and Apit Kombo were physically assaulted and they escaped from major injury due to help and protection from the police personnel. The aggrieved poppy cultivation owners also pelted stones and damaged vehicles, the release added.