Nine more of Shahi Mahatma drug peddlers' gang arrested

In continuation of the MISSION CLEAN, nine more members of the Shahi Mahatma gang have been nabbed from various locations in Shimla district, the police said here today.

The accused have been identified as Balwan Singh, a resident of Adal village in Rohru of Shimla; Pushkar Chauhan, a resident of Mehandli village in Rohru; Vivek Kumar, a resident of Khashdhar village in Chirgaon; Anshul Negi, a resident of Bhatwa village in Chirgaon; Vikash Kumar, a resdent of Jhalwari village in Chirgaon; Ajay Kumar, a resident of Kaloti village in Chirgaon; Anuj Chauhan, a resident of Dhanoti village in Rohru; Abhishek, a resident of Thana village in Rohru; and Harshit Chauhan, a resident of Turan village in Jubbalm in Shimla.

Shimla SP Sanjeev Gandhi said that these drug peddlers were actively involved in selling 'chitta' (adultrated heroin) in the upper Shimla region and were associated with the gang for a long time. He added that the accused were identified on the basis of a deep financial investigation as well as with the help of technical inputs from the members of the organised drug trade.

He added, “Kingpin Shahi Mahatma, alias Shahi Negi, was arrested a few months ago. This interstate gang was active in the Rohru-Chirgaon area for the past three or four years and involved in drug trade of Rs 7 crore to Rs 8 crore.

The SP said that till now, 52 members of the gang had been arrested. He added that the SIINS (Social Intelligence Integrated Network System) had integrated social participants, including women, mahila mandals, school and college students, conscious civilians, ex-servicemen, retired police officers, taxi operators and hoteliers. “This network is collaborating with the Shimla police in gathering information about drug peddlers and users,” he added.

Gandhi said, “The SIINS outlines a list of drug peddlers, who continue to be involved in wrong practices and marks their status as active or inactive. The drug supply chain is identified by getting feedback from local people or areas that are highly infested with drug abuse related serious challenges. The use of SIINS has revealed that the illegal business of 'chitta' in Shimla district is about Rs 45 crore.”