228 gm heroin, 32 kg charas seized in Chamba this year

Chamba Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Repaswal recently chaired a review meeting with various departments to evaluate ongoing efforts in tackling drug abuse and the illegal narcotics trade in the district. During the meeting, he directed officials to ramp up awareness campaigns about the harmful effects of narcotics and drugs, particularly in educational institutions.

Repaswal also instructed that monthly reports detailing the sale of specific categories of medicines be submitted by chemist shops for monitoring purposes. He emphasised the need for the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, alongside the Education Department, to increase awareness initiatives across all schools and colleges in the district. Furthermore, he called for stricter enforcement of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) to curb tobacco use.

Superintendent of Police Abhishek Yadav provided an update on law enforcement’s efforts, revealing that 82 cases have been registered under the NDPS Act in the current financial year. These operations led to the seizure of approximately 32 kg of charas and 228 gm of heroin.

The District Drug Inspector reported that 212 inspections of chemist shops have been carried out since January 2023. In response to violations, 18 chemist shop licences were suspended in 2024.

The meeting was attended by a range of officials, including Chamba SDM Priyanshu Khati, Deputy Commissioner of State Tax and Excise Nutan Mahajan, Assistant Commissioner Rahul Kashyap, District Programme Officer for Health Dr Vaibhavi Gurung and other representatives from the Directorate of Primary Education, Directorate of Higher Education, and District Welfare Office.

The Deputy Commissioner reiterated the need for continued cooperation and vigilance across all departments to effectively combat the drug menace in Chamba.