Shimla, Kullu dists most vulnerable to drug menace
Shimla and Kullu have reported the highest number of cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, this year, thus emerging as the most vulnerable districts for drug abuse.
According to the police, out of 1,218 cases registered in the state so far, 187 cases under the NDPS Act have been registered in Shimla district, highest in the state, followed by Kullu where 186 cases under NDPS Act have been registered so far. Similarly, 149 cases have been reported in Mandi, 125 in Bilaspur, 99 in Kangra, 84 in Una, 76 in Sirmaur, 69 in Baddi Barotiwala Nalagarh (BBN), 58 in Chamba, 57 in Solan, 41 in Hamirpur, 23 in Kinnaur and six in Lahaul and Spiti district.
This year (Jan 1 to Sep 30), police has also seized about 7.819 kg of heroin, 205.7 kg charas (cannabis), 570 kg poppy husk, 33.7 kg opium 25.2 kg ganja, 5.21 grams of cocaine and 6.09 gm of smack.
In Shimla district only over 1,100 drugs peddlers have been arrested in the past 18 months. Apart from this, police has busted various inter-state drug rackets and has also arrested several kingpins such as Shashi Negi, alias Shahi Mahatma, Ravi Giri and Ranjan Sharma. These drug kingpins were responsible for running illicit drug racket in Upper Shimla regions that include Rohru, Kotkhai, Theog, Kotkhai, etc.
Recently, CM Sukhvinder Sukhu had announced that the state government would soon launch a ‘Nasha Mukt Himachal Abhiyan’, a comprehensive state-wide campaign aimed at combating the menace. According to the Chief Minister the campaign envisages a three-pronged strategy, focusing on prevention, early identification of drug users and the rehabilitation of addicts back into society.
Under this programme, the state government will involve all key stakeholders, including various government departments; local bodies as well as non-government organizations (NGOs) who would play an active role at the grassroots level in eradicating drug menace.
