Notorious drug supplier involved in 41 cases held
The Solan police achieved a significant breakthrough in their fight against drug peddling with the arrest of Anil Kumar, alias Pintu, a notorious supplier from Bilaspur involved in 41 criminal cases, including nine related to drug trafficking.
Solan SP Gaurav Singh disclosed that the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) intercepted a car near Darlamod on November 2, based on intelligence about a heroin consignment. The operation led to the arrest of Praveen Kumar (31) and Yogesh Kumar (33), residents of Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, with 10 grams of heroin. A case under Section 21 and 29 of the NDPS Act was registered at Darlaghat Police Station, and their vehicle was seized.
The investigation revealed the heroin was procured from Pintu, a notorious supplier active in the region for years. Pintu, known for his efforts to evade arrest by keeping aggressive dogs, was found hiding in a cowshed during the police raid. His house search led to the seizure of Rs 48,550 in cash, a weighing machine for heroin, a khukri and foil paper.
Further investigation confirmed Pintu’s involvement in 41 criminal cases, nine under the NDPS Act. He was produced in court and remanded in three days of police custody for interrogation.
In another operation, the SIU arrested Ramesh, a resident of Chakrata, Uttarakhand, from a rented house in Kathhar. The team recovered 218 gram of hashish and 50 synthetic drug tablets from his possession.
The district police, under a mission mode since July 2023, have registered 118 NDPS cases, primarily involving large quantities of drugs. A total of 278 smugglers have been arrested, including 111 individuals from other states and 98 major suppliers from regions such as Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
Among these, eight Nigerian nationals were apprehended from Delhi. Over 40 inter-state heroin smuggling networks operating in Himachal Pradesh have been dismantled, significantly curbing drug sales.
Additionally, the Solan police took unprecedented steps to confiscate and freeze the properties of drug smugglers. Property worth ?3.53 crore, linked to seven accused, has been seized. This includes assets of Gurpreet Singh from Haryana and Kapil Garg from Chandigarh, both involved in heroin smuggling. One notable case involved 37 kg of high-quality hashish, while others linked suppliers from Punjab and Haryana to local peddlers in Himachal Pradesh.
SP Gaurav Singh emphasized the department’s commitment to creating a drug-free society, with special efforts focused on protecting youth, especially students, from drug addiction. These initiatives underscore the district police’s relentless efforts to dismantle drug networks and rehabilitate affected communities.
