SHIMLA: The Himachal Pradesh Police have arrested three persons, including a woman, in Kotkhai tehsil of Shimla district for their alleged involvement in an inter-state chitta racket.
The accused were found in possession of 30.6 grams of chitta (heroin), the authorities confirmed.
Those arrested have been identified as Kamal Acharya (46), a resident of Uttam Nagar in Delhi, Ranjan Sharma (35), a local from Dalsar village in Kotkhai, and Suman Shahi (35), a resident of Ward Number 3 in Kotkhai.
According to police sources, a tip-off was received regarding Suman Shahi, who had reportedly been involved in illegal drug activities from her rented accommodation in Kotkhai. Acting swiftly on the information, a police team from Kotkhai police station conducted a raid on the premises where all three suspects were present.
During the search, the police recovered the contraband from the trio’s possession. Subsequently, they were arrested and the chitta was seized as evidence.
Repeat offenders linked to drug trade
Theog Deputy Superintendent of Police Siddharth Sharma confirmed the arrests and stated that a case under sections 21 and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, has been registered against the accused at Kotkhai police station. The DSP highlighted that the arrests mark a significant step in curbing the drug menace in the region.
Sharma also revealed that Kamal Acharya was a notorious drug peddler, previously arrested in Theog for possession of 55 grams of heroin. Ranjan Sharma, another of the accused, is also a repeat offender, with two prior NDPS cases registered against him. Both men are known to be deeply entrenched in the illicit drug trade across state borders.
Drug network expanding across borders
The presence of inter-state peddlers like Kamal Acharya in Himachal Pradesh has raised alarms over the growing drug network that is increasingly crossing state lines. Authorities believe that the recent arrests could lead to further revelations regarding the involvement of other individuals and gangs in the region. “The arrest of these individuals will certainly disrupt the local drug supply chain, but we are continuing our investigations to ensure that the larger network behind this racket is dismantled,” DSP Sharma added.
