Punjab man found dead in Himachal guest house; chitta overdose suspected

DHARAMSHALA: The body of a Punjab resident was discovered in a private guest house in the Shri Naina Devi area under Kot Kehloor police station of Bilaspur district in Himachal Pradesh, raising suspicion of a drug overdose.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the deceased may have succumbed to chitta, a synthetic derivative of heroin that has wreaked havoc in northern states.

A syringe and needle were recovered from the man’s pocket, further strengthening the overdose theory. The deceased has been identified as Somnath (50), a resident of Quality Chowk near Preet Nagar in the Shimlapuri area of Ludhiana in Punjab.

Companion of deceased flees

According to police sources, two persons had checked into the guest house. Later, the authorities were alerted about one of them lying unconscious.

By the time the police arrived, one of the persons had fled the scene. Forensic experts were called to examine the body, which showed no visible injury marks.

The body has been sent for post-mortem at the Bilaspur Regional Hospital, while efforts were underway to trace the absconding companion, said a senior police official in Bilaspur.

Chitta menace spreading in Himachal

Himachal Pradesh has become a hotspot for synthetic drug abuse. Chitta, a highly addictive heroin derivative, has tightened its grip on the state, with several districts witnessing a rise in drug-related deaths and arrests.

Drug smugglers from neighbouring states, particularly Punjab, have further aggravated the situation. Despite intensified crackdowns, authorities struggle to contain the growing menace, highlighting an urgent need for stricter enforcement and rehabilitation initiatives.

Sunil Chadha