Supplier speeds car towards SHO, tyre shot in self-defence
TNR News Network
Hamirpur:
In a shocking escalation of Himachal Pradesh’s drug crisis, a chitta supplier allegedly attempted to mow down a police Station House Officer (SHO) during an early-morning checkpoint operation in Hamirpur district. The incident has intensified fears among residents and police alike, as drug traffickers grow increasingly violent in their attempts to evade law enforcement.
According to the Sadar police, officers had received a tip-off that a chitta consignment was being transported through the Dug Nehri-Nalty road. Acting on the information, a checkpoint was set up early in the morning.
At around 8 am, a suspicious vehicle approached the naka. When signalled to stop, the driver instead accelerated and allegedly tried to run over SHO Kulwant Rana. Acting swiftly in self-defence, the SHO fired at the vehicle, puncturing one of its tyres and forcing the accused to abandon the car and flee on foot.
Accused identified, car owner already a repeat offender
Hamirpur SP Bhagat Singh Thakur confirmed the incident, stating that the accused had been identified and a search was underway. The vehicle involved bears a Himachal registration number and the police say the car owner already has multiple NDPS cases registered against him.
The police are now investigating whether the owner himself was driving or if someone else was behind the wheel at the time of the attack. Officers are also verifying if additional suspects were present in the vehicle.
SP Thakur said the firing was justified given the direct threat to the SHO’s life. “The team had set up a naka around 6:30 a.m. based on information about a drug delivery. At about 8 a.m., a suspect vehicle approached and, when asked to stop, the driver sped up and tried to hit the SHO. The officer fired in self-defence,” he said.
Search intensifies as drug network being probed
Police teams are now combing the area, tracing the movement of the vehicle before the incident and examining the criminal background of its owner. Investigators believe the suspect is part of an active trafficking network operating in the region.
SP Thakur urged citizens to report any information related to drug smuggling. “Public cooperation is crucial. Inform the police about any suspicious activity so that we can tackle this menace together,” he said.
The incident has once again highlighted the growing boldness of drug traffickers in Himachal Pradesh, where chitta-driven crime has become a serious threat to public safety. Authorities say further arrests are expected soon.
