NH-102 challenges seminar and threats to peace in Manipur

RS Jassal *

A stretch of the Imphal-Moreh route :: Pix - TSE

General

I was happy to be invited to attend a one day Seminar on NH 102 - Challenges and Effective Management held at Pallel sometime in October 2011 organised by 26 Sect Assam Rifles under aegis of IGAR(S). It was attended by important officials of NCB (Narcotics Control Board), Customs Department {(Revenue), Govt. of India}, Wild Life and Forest Department (Govt. of Manipur), State Taxation Department, Intelligence Bureau (IB), State Police Department and all the CO's of the Assam Rifles posted along or astride NH 102.

Aim

The aim was to bring all the above agencies to a common platform with a view to know each other organisationally, to appraise themselves of Acts and various Regulations, powers and limitations specially caused by insurgent's activities in the state and to share the expertise and views towards effective management of NH 102 because of its importance and being the main surface linking to Myanmar very important for us.

Conduct Mr VS Shahasane, Regional Director, NCB gave detailed information about the National Policy on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances based on the Directive Principles in Article 47 of the Constitution of India under NDPS Act, 1985. NCB as a Central authority has an aim to effectively prevent and combat abuse of illicit trade, move and trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. It achieves its aim by coordinating its actions with the State Government and other agencies.

So their organizational setup, Act, Rules involved, apprehension of offenders, punishments by courts, disposal of seized goods and suspects to authorities concerned for a trial were of great learning value for all who attended to understand the overall picture. Due to unfavourable situation created by the insurgent activities which prevents them from discharging their duties properly and their expectation and help from the Assam Rifles, synergy required with Police and Civil Administration were covered in detail in a very simple and absorbing manner.

Customs Deptt also gave detailed setup of their Land Custom Station (LCS) at Moreh for Controlling Trade, Board of excise and custom as a Part of the Department of Revenue under the Min of Finance, GOI. This department deals with implementing Policy concerning levy and collection of Customs and Central excise duties, prevention of smuggling and administration of matters related to customs, central excise and Narcotics to the extend CBEC under preview.

The participants learned about their organizational setup, difference between legal and controlled goods, role of duties imposed for various items and quantum of punishment to offenders and steps required to plug loopholes. They also projected their expectations and help required from the Assam Rifles in view of the insurgency.

In addition to above, State Taxation Department have also setup many check gates along NH 102 and their Policy Perspectives keep on fluctuating. Thus check gates/ tactics keep on changing. The functioning of the State Police as role players in this chess game is known to almost all. The Assam Rifles being CPMF though not directly meant for assistance in these operations since mainly tasked for Counter Insurgency Operations to keep NH 102 safe for passage, also gets naturally involved under directions from Central authorities to ward off interference by the insurgents, where multi parallel routes go side by side coupled with many unknown routes available through the porous borders with Myanmar.

Players in this game of making easy money, involvement of expert public carriers, powerful persons both in the social circles & aided by some strong politicians and OGW's (Over Ground Workers) was also discussed. On many occasions the role of undergrounds comes into lime light through media that they are protecting the cultivation of Poppy and conduct of business in Heroin. However in a recent news in media, RPF (Revolutionary Peoples Front) have put blame on SFs that it is they who are patronizing the snakes and ladders trade of the contraband items so that the youths of Manipur remain addicted to drugs and Manipur remains as it is afflicted with HIV/AIDS for reasons quite obvious.

Whatever may be the allegations, counter allegations from SF/UG, I feel without going into side of anyone, we must appreciate that every segment of the society and the officials of Govt agencies want that THIS MENACE must be eradicated. If all join hands, the task for Government agencies can go easy and situation will become manageable once UG's also feel that this evil must stop to see a healthy Manipur.

Even otherwise, when allegations/counter allegations are evaluated with factual data what SF's and Govt agencies are doing together, the UG's allegations stand nowhere near by to their accusation that Govt agencies are patronising the cultivation which readers can see in the following paragraph. There is one major success story to quote where poppy cultivation has been stopped.

Most of the Intellectuals are aware of the fact that when China started to build their nation in acquired territories they realized that Yunnan- Kumning area which were known producers of this drug substance, under some notorious & rouge Generals must be neutralised. They decided to push out such persons from their territories South/ South East i.e. Salween hills/valley. They succeeded in this mission. Their move towards north was denied to them and those groups got tagged to create Golden Triangle and their business found opening in south & south-west through Kachin area of Burma to India - Afghanistan - South America (Colombia) The other story is of Mon District of Nagaland.

Up to late sixties the entire Mon area specially touching into Khonsa and Namnasa (Sonari of Assam) had got completely devastated by the addiction of all and sundry to ganja & puffing of poppy powder in various forms. Members of Mon Students Organisation who were generally studying outside the state, decided to put an end to it. So they destroyed the crops under protection of village elders through awareness cautioning on the damaging consequences of losing their populations and also sought Govt assistance to give villagers an alternative.

Govt went jubilant, maize seeds, and other fruits saplings like pears, peaches, banana, were provided. And today there is not even a single cultivator who grows this crop. These are two success stories. Drugs make youth and adults lethargic, dis-interested and they ultimately fall prey to AIDS/HIV and insolent dependency.

Conclusion Seminar conducted by HQ 26 Sector AR under aegis of IGAR(S) was highly successful in giving a common platform to all concerned agencies to know each other's functioning and direct their efforts to control this menace. Our young generation are the most affected thousands of widows/ and widowers are there now.

There are number of NGO's who work for seminars and criticise Government agencies rather than taking local area activists along and exhort youths to educate locals not to grow this type of crops and help eradicate the growing of this crop, its trade and its use. This envisaged achievement which looks like just beginning of a crusade to make Manipur "Drug Free State", can be made possible only by well kindered, calibered, synergy between SFs people and the Central Narcotic Drugs officials under the leadership of various SF Commanders and with full cooperation from Director Narcotics like Mr VS Shahasane.

In recent past, 26 Sector AR and its units have done successful operations in destroying 1200 acres of poppy crops since last two years. The areas of Saijik Tampak- Khengjoi-Joupi have been absolutely cleared and encouraging note is villagers have shown no interest to revive the cultivation which means people wish to get rid of this, provided they get alternative crops.

Similar, action was taken by 27 Sector AR in Southern Churachandpur with then 30AR in lead and destroyed almost 1000 acres, areas and 73 Mountain brigade have now done it in area Aina on borders of Senapati and Tamenglong districts and destroyed 750 acres of crop with 46 AR/38 AR and with 6/8 Gorkha Rifles in Joupi area.

59 Mtn Bde with 43 AR destroyed complete crop in Saikul sub division a year back & 5AR intercepting almost 8 tons of processed ganja from Maram to Tadubi check posts. Government agencies, six of them engaged in same task will be too happy to complete their job if RPF and other likeminded UG organisations also decide to take similar actions on their own to see Manipur bloom as Drug free society.

To conclude the Seminar was conceptualised under visionary and missionary zeal of Maj Gen UK Gurung, YSM. though , he could not personally attend the programme since was held up at some interior post waiting for hepter lift, but conveyed his vision through Sector Commander.

26 Sector AR under command of Brig Upendra Dwivedi deserves appreciations to have organised the seminar which is urgent necessity of the times. Conduct of the event by Col Ravroop Singh was excellent and active participation by SP Chandel with his DIG and Prof CH Priyaranjan of Manipur University who presented the key note with equal concern and clarity

End Note.

It needs multipronged thrusts to make people forget about poppy cultivation.
(a) Synergetic, effective and harsh measures against the defaulters by the ED (Enforcement Department) are required.
(b) Ethical approach i.e. to induce others kids to make them mentally, psychologically and economically week at cost of making profits for self and a few is a crime against humanity and God.
(c) Horticulture, Floriculture, Pissiculture and herbal plantation to go thousand percent in Social Sector as North East is rich in bio-diversity deposits.