‘Baba’ held with commercial quantity of charas in Sirmaur
In a significant breakthrough, the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of the police has arrested a so-called ‘baba’ with a commercial quantity of charas (cannabis) in the Sirmaur district. The accused, identified as 44-year-old Laxmi Dutt, a resident of Chalna village near Dadahu, was caught on Mahipur Road near the Durga Mata Temple in Chakli while riding a motorcycle (HP 71 7210). Upon searching him, the police seized 1.156 kg of charas from his possession yesterday at late night.
Initial investigations reveal that the charas consignment was being transported from Himachal Pradesh to Rajasthan. The police acted on a tip-off, intercepting the accused before he could deliver the drugs.
According to reliable sources, the accused operated under the guise of a ‘baba’ and duped devotees by collecting not only monetary offerings but also charas as a supposed ‘holy’ offering. It is alleged that he convinced gullible followers that offering charas would appease deities and fulfill their desires.
The accused is said to have set up a makeshift shrine dedicated to ‘Goga Maharaj’ in his village, where he performed rituals and claimed to solve people’s problems through occult practices. Visitors seeking solutions to their personal or financial issues were allegedly manipulated into offering charas, believing it to be a sacred act.
The source further revealed that the baba would transport these offerings to Rajasthan, particularly to Hanumangarh district, where Himachal Pradesh’s high-quality charas fetches a premium price. It is also being told that the accused used to take a group of devotees from Himachal to Rajasthan and during this time he used to deliver the Charas taken from the devotees there also.
ASP Yogesh Rolta confirmed the arrest and disclosed that a case has been registered under Sections 20 and 25 of the NDPS Act at Sadar Police Station, Nahan. The authorities are now investigating whether the accused was part of a larger drug trafficking network.
The Sirmaur police are also probing the baba’s connections in Rajasthan, as well as the construction of the shrine in his village, which is suspected to be a front for his illegal activities.
The local community is reeling from the revelations. The accused was known for his spiritual persona, and his involvement in drug trafficking has left many in disbelief. Law enforcement has urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to drug trafficking.
This case serves as a stark reminder of how criminal elements exploit faith and superstition to further their illegal operations. The police have assured the public of a thorough investigation and stringent action against those involved.
