Pallavi Sharma
Kangra: In a significant crackdown on narcotics, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) unit of Kangra police arrested three men after recovering a heroin consignment from their vehicle on Tuesday.
According to officials, the operation was conducted following a tip-off near the rain shelter adjoining the Samela bus stop, close to the Kangra railway station. The police team intercepted a car suspected of carrying contraband.
During a thorough search, officers found a black plastic packet hidden under the driver’s seat foot mat. The packet, when opened, was found to contain 30.57 grams of heroin (locally referred to as “chitta”).
The arrested individuals were identified as Gurpratap Singh (31), a resident of Gurudwara Road, Dharamshala; Sovit Kumar (34), son of Ravinder Singh from Lower Shyam Nagar, Dharamshala; and Ankur Kunal Singh (34) of Chaitdu, Dharamshala, all hailing from Kangra district.
Police said the trio was taken into custody on the spot and a case has been registered under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Investigations are underway to ascertain the source of the narcotics and whether the accused are linked to a larger supply network.
A senior police official stated that drug abuse and trafficking continue to pose a serious challenge in Himachal Pradesh, particularly in districts such as Kangra, which lie on critical supply routes. “Our teams are on heightened alert against drug syndicates and those involved in peddling. This arrest is part of our ongoing strategy to crack down on narcotics at the grassroots level,” the officer said.
The CIA team added that interrogation of the accused may lead to more disclosures regarding local networks and possible interstate links. Meanwhile, authorities have urged the public to share any information related to drug trafficking with the police.
