Imphal, Feb. 1 -- Approximately 50 acres of illegal poppy cultivations were chopped down in two separate hill districts in the north and northwest parts of Manipur during the past 24 hours.

On receiving intelligence inputs, the security forces launched a series of operations on Friday.

The police reports said that the security forces struck a major blow to drug cartels in Noney district, destroying 4.49 acres of illicit poppy plantations.

The operation was led by Noney District Police, along with a joint forest team from Noney and Tamenglong, in the Nurathel village hill range under Noney Police Station.

Earlier in the day, a joint team of Manipur Police, Central Forces, Forest Department, and Executive Magistrate conducted a poppy cu...