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The Newz Radar
MANDI: The drug menace has gripped Himachal Pradesh due to the easy availability of synthetic variants from neighbouring states. Concerns about drug addiction are justified as the Mandi police have seized over 1 kg of ‘chitta’ from drug peddlers in the district during 2023.
Additional Superintendent of Police Sagar Chander disclosed that the Mandi police witnessed a significant increase in drug addiction cases, with 227 cases of NDPS registered in 2023, compared to 2012 cases in 2022. This year, the police arrested 309 individuals, up from 294 in the previous year, indicating a flourishing narcotics business in the entire state. The Mandi police apprehended nearly 75 kg of heroin by December 26, compared to 68 kg in 2022.
Discussing the largest heroin haul in the district in 2023, the police officer mentioned that around 12 kg of heroin were seized from an innova car in the Janglihali area of Seraj in the district. The seizure led to the arrest of Kalidas, a resident of Balh, and Sahitaj, a resident of district Kullu. In this case, the police attached the property of the main accused Kalidas, valued at nearly 1.02 crore, jewellery worth Rs 16 lakh, two houses and six vehicles.
Regarding the seizure of cocaine in the district, Mandi police achieved a major breakthrough by confiscating the biggest haul of cocaine recently. During a routine checkpoint near Mandi-Bilaspur border on December 20, five youths were apprehended with 268 grams of cocaine. Investigation revealed that people from Punjab had transported the consignment to the Mandi-Bilaspur border, from where it was brought to Mandi town for delivery by the five accused.
The police are grappling with cracking the drug supply chain, as most of the accused are small-time drug peddlers. However, senior officials believe that the spike in cases and arrests indicates growing awareness among the masses.
The ASP stated that this year, the police seized a total of 74.617 kg of heroin, 1.128 kg of cocaine, 55 kg of opium and nearly 5 kg of processed opium from peddlers and drug traffickers. In addition to identifying over 12 lakh opium plants, the police destroyed 80,000 heroin plants in the district. Moreover, the police seized 3.188 kg of opium and 2.75 grams of smack during the year.
“The HP Police have now decided to effectively implement the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act, emphasising the need to place habitual drug-trafficking offenders under preventive detention for one year,” he said.
