Himanta Sarma spoils 'Udta Assam party', warns 'local Pablo Escobars'

Himanta Biswa Sarma, while warning local drug dealers, shared a video of a tractor smashing a poppy plantation amid a huge police presence.

In Short

• Assam CM warns local drug dealers
• 170 Bighas of poppy fields worth Rs 27.20 crore destroyed
• Video shows police smashing poppy plantation with a tractor

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took to social media on Saturday to issue a stern warning to drug traffickers, calling them "local Pablo Escobars," after authorities successfully destroyed illegal poppy crops worth Rs 27.20 crore.

Sarma highlighted the significant seizure of 170 Bighas (over 56 acres) of poppy cultivation in the Char areas, carried out by Goalpara Police in January.

"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 Rs 27.20 crore in January," Sarma said in a post on X.

Pablo Escobar was a drug lord in Columbia, who unsettled the country’s democratic government and whose illegal drug trade spread across continents.

The Assam CM also shared a video, showing a tractor smashing the purported poppy plantation amid the presence of a huge posse of policemen.

"So next time you think of drugs, think of @assampolice first. #AssamAgainstDrugs," the Chief Minister said.

Police destroyed the poppy cultivation at Sitalmari Char under Chunari Police Station. The operation was carried out under the leadership of ASP (HQ) Goalpara and OC, Lakhipur Police Station in the presence of the Circle Officer of Lakhipur, the Excise Inspector, and other officials.

MANIPUR CM EXTENDS SUPPORT

Responding to Sarma, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said the two states stand together in working to ensure they are "free from the shadow of drugs."

"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," Singh said in the post.

The Manipur Chief Minister said over 25 acres of illegal poppy plantations were destroyed in Tengnoupal subdivision's Khudei Khullen hill range and a first information report (FIR) was filed today.