8 more drug peddlers of Shahi Mahatma gang held
In a significant crackdown on drug networks in Shimla, the police apprehended eight more individuals linked to the Shahi Mahatma gang, a notorious group involved in heroin trafficking, particularly in the upper Shimla regions. The arrests were executed by a team led by the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Theog, under the guidance of ShimlaSP Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi. The accused include Altamas Makrani (21) from Uttar Pradesh, now residing in Shimla’s Rohru district, along with local residents Navdeep Negi (39), Sandeep Sharma (29), Ranush Puharta (27), Khushi Ram Thakur (28), Someshwar (32), Hanish Ranta (25), and Puruskrit Verma (33).
SP Gandhi stated that these arrests were part of a strategic “backward linkages” investigation, which involved analyzing financial transactions and gathering technical data. This approach has allowed the police to map the extensive network of associates aiding the gang. Upper Shimla areas such as Jubbal, Kotkhai, Theog, Rohru, and Chirgaon have been identified as hotspots where several associates are active.
Gandhi also shared that 26 more affiliates are under investigation. “Operation Clean: The Path to a Drug-Free Shimla” is currently underway, aiming to dismantle the gang’s operations and bring all accomplices to justice. This initiative follows a specialized “intensive investigation” model where every detail of the drug supply chain and its participants is meticulously examined.
Since the start of the year, Shimla police have made anti-drug efforts a top priority. With 462 arrests across 210 cases, authorities have significantly ramped up operations against drug peddlers. The Shahi Mahatma gang first came to light when one of its couriers from Jammu and Kashmir was detained in September with 486 grams of heroin, locally known as “chitta.” Further investigations led to the capture of Shahi Negi, alias Shahi Mahatma, identified as the mastermind behind the gang.
Negi, active in the drug trade for five to six years, reportedly maintained connections with Nigerian drug dealers in Delhi. His operations were meticulously concealed, with Negi avoiding direct interaction with buyers. Instead, he relied on a network of middlemen, frequently changing his location and mobile numbers to evade law enforcement.
The gang employed sophisticated verification techniques before transacting with buyers, including checking identification through PAN and Aadhaar cards. Once verified, buyers were added to a WhatsApp group for further coordination. Payments were processed via UPI, and contraband was discreetly left at pre-designated locations, such as under trees or near roadside landmarks, for buyers to retrieve.
SP Gandhi emphasised that police across Shimla district have intensified their focus on tackling drug-related crimes, noting, “The cause and effect of drug peddling activities are being studied closely. Every officer in the district has prioritised action against drug peddlers.” With the recent arrests, authorities hope to further disrupt the network and reduce the drug trade’s impact on Shimla’s communities.
