MANDI (Munish Sood)
In a shocking turn of events, the menace of chitta has reached horrifying new depths in the Slapper region of Mandi district in Himachal Pradesh where entire families have fallen into the grip of addiction.
The crisis has escalated to such an extent that some addicts, desperate for their daily dose, have deceitfully introduced their own parents and elderly family members to drugs, turning them into addicts to secure a steady supply.
Chitta given to unsuspecting mother in guise of medication
The devastating pattern often begins with manipulation. In one particularly tragic case, a son began giving chitta to his unsuspecting mother under the guise of medication for her chronic knee pain.
Experiencing temporary relief, she soon began requesting the so-called ‘medicine’ herself, unaware of its true nature. The addiction spiralled rapidly, draining the family’s savings.
With no money left, the duo resorted to borrowing from relatives and selling household items —from gas cylinders and kitchen utensils to even the trees on their property — to fund their dependence.
Drug peddlers operating brazenly in Salapar
When the family’s married daughters uncovered the grim reality, they intervened, desperately trying to pull their mother and brother out of the abyss of addiction. Unfortunately, this case is not isolated.
Several families in the region are enduring similar tragedies, with drug-induced desperation leading to the sale of valuables, property and even the dignity of once-thriving households.
The chitta trade is flourishing openly in Salapar, with drug peddlers operating brazenly amidst the fear-stricken silence of residents. In the past year alone, three young lives have been lost to drug-related causes, sending shockwaves through the community.
Fear of retaliation from drug mafia keeping many mum
Despite the tragic toll, fear of retaliation from the powerful drug mafia keeps many from speaking out or reporting illegal activities.
Mandi Superintendent of Police Sakshi Verma, acknowledged the severity of the situation, stating, “We have intensified operations in the region and tightened security along border areas. In the coming months, our efforts will be further escalated to dismantle these networks.”
However, despite increased police activity, the growing influence of the drug mafia continues to cast a dark shadow over Salapar, leaving families battling not just addiction but the paralysing fear of the criminals who profit from their pain.
