In fight against chitta, Himachal to shift cops posted for years on border with other states

Shimla: In a move to curb the rising menace of drug trafficking, the Himachal Pradesh government is set to overhaul its policing strategy along the state’s borders with Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir.

Policemen who have been stationed at these borders for several years will be replaced with fresh personnel, ensuring a more dynamic and corruption-free approach to tackling drug smuggling.
A proposal for the same was under preparation, sources said.

Additionally, plainclothes police teams would be deployed at key smuggling routes, particularly at covert entry points used by traffickers.

The state government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, was sealing vulnerable border areas and installing high-tech CCTV surveillance to monitor illicit activities, said sources.

The Chief Minister has issued strict directives to law enforcement agencies, including the Special Task Force (STF) and intelligence units, to take uncompromising action against the drug mafia.

Intelligence reports indicate insider involvement

Recent busts by the state’s CID have revealed disturbing trends, indicating that drug consignments often entered Himachal post-11 pm through border routes.

Intelligence sources suggest that some officials and personnel may have colluded with traffickers, leading to their arrests in recent months.

The CID has put dozens of high-profile traffickers from Himachal and neighbouring states under the scanner.

Reliable sources indicate that a dedicated CID team was currently conducting raids in neighbouring states to nab a key mastermind behind the growing chitta network in Himachal.

The past seven years have witnessed an alarming increase in heroin abuse among the state’s youth, prompting an urgent crackdown.

Regional collaboration to combat drug trade

Recognising that the drug menace transcended state boundaries, the police chiefs of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir have intensified coordination.

These states are now actively sharing intelligence to dismantle inter-state drug networks. The recent joint operations have resulted in multiple arrests and seizures, reinforcing the resolve to eradicate drug trafficking from the region.

With the state’s youth increasingly falling prey to addiction, the government is leaving no stone unturned in its fight against the chitta trade, aiming to secure a drug-free future for Himachal Pradesh, said an official.

TNR