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Police investigate at hospital after suspected Kuki militants attacked villagers in Imphalkutruk. (File Photo/PTI)
Sources said a large parallel drug economy worth Rs 60,000 crore is booming in Manipur against a state budget of Rs 35,000 crore. They added that the drug golden triangle involving Laos, Myanmar and Thailand has spread to Manipur
Senior intelligence sources told CNN-News18 on Tuesday that the violence in Manipur is linked to the region's “drug economy” and the spread of Christianity.
Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh on Tuesday condemned the recent drone blast attacks in the state and termed them as acts of terrorism. The attacks, allegedly carried out by militants, took place on Sunday and Monday. “The use of drones to drop bombs on civilians and security forces is an act of terrorism and I condemn this cowardly act in the strongest possible terms,” Singh posted on social media site X.
Sources said a large parallel drug economy worth Rs 60,000 crore is booming in Manipur against a state budget of Rs 35,000 crore.
Sources said the drug golden triangle involving Laos, Myanmar and Thailand has spread to Manipur.
They added that the situation had its roots in the drug trade and Christian support.
“Myanmar drug syndicates are spreading in Manipur as we can see huge opium and poppy cultivation in the hills and forests of Myanmar,” a source said. “Chinese businessmen pay huge amounts to locals in Manipur and Myanmar funds, turning Manipur into a safe haven and further used to transport drugs across India.”
They say large quantities of methamphetamine, ketamine and other synthetic drugs continue to be produced and trafficked in the Golden Triangle.
Sources revealed that on the drug trafficking map, Manipur is close to the tri-junction of Myanmar's Tiding, Kachin, Shan Shan and other opium-producing areas.
“They transport drugs from this area to other parts of India via Manipur. In Manipur, their entry points are Behiang and Moreh,” said an intelligence source. “From these areas, they travel by train to Kohima and Dimapur and then are sent to other parts of India.”
Sources said intelligence agencies had raised an alert in June about the recent use of drones in attacks, following which the Assam police immediately confiscated the drone batteries.
“The use of drone technology is not new as they (militants) are very close to the Assam Rifles as many cadres have retired from there,” a source said. “The Kukis are Christians, They received huge support from the Christian world. To the surprise of many, a senior Christian lawyer, who usually charges 1-1.5 million rupees per hearing, freed three arrested Kukis in court. The Kukis are very influential because the Naga community are also Christian and they enjoy the unconditional support of the church, including from international agencies.
