Himachal Police strike 121 locations in Statewide Anti-Drug drive, major seizures made
Photo used for indicative purpose only
Shimla, Nov 23,
Himachal Pradesh Police on Saturday launched one of its biggest coordinated anti-drug operations to date, striking simultaneously at 121 locations across all 13 districts and dealing a decisive blow to the state’s expanding chitta network. The crackdown, executed after several days of confidential planning, digital surveillance and intelligence-based analysis, comes barely a week after Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu reaffirmed that making Himachal “chitta-free” is not a political slogan but an uncompromising commitment of the government. Acting on this resolve, police teams fanned out across the state at dawn, targeting known hotspots, identified traffickers and suspected supply routes. By late evening, officers confirmed recoveries from nine drug-related cases, including 3.77 kg of charas, 12.38 grams of chitta, 88.1 grams of opium, 1.15 kg of poppy husk, a country-made pistol and ₹63,000 in cash.
The most significant seizure came from Kangra district, where raids in Dehra yielded 3.5 kg of charas along with cash believed to be linked to the sale network. In Nurpur, searches at 13 locations led to the recovery of over 4 grams of chitta. Chamba district also witnessed an extensive sweep with 13 targeted strikes, resulting in the seizure of 6.23 grams of chitta. In the industrial belt of Baddi, police recovered a country-made pistol, 243 grams of charas and nearly 87 grams of opium during 14 separate raids, indicating the presence of both drug and illegal arms networks. Simultaneous searches in Solan and Sirmaur focused on multiple suspects, with surveillance against a few key individuals still underway.
Kullu district reported smaller but significant seizures—17 grams of charas and nearly a gram of chitta—pointing to continued micro-level trafficking routes. Raids in Mandi and Hamirpur districts were conducted at 6 and 11 locations respectively, while in Una, police recovered 783 grams of poppy husk during 12 surprise inspections. In Bilaspur, raids at eight places resulted in the recovery of opium, poppy husk, charas, chitta and a digital weighing machine often used for retail-level drug distribution. Even the high-altitude district of Lahaul–Spiti was not untouched, with action taken at two identified points.
Police officials confirmed that 18 suspects were found missing during the operation and had likely fled after sensing imminent arrest. Their identities and movements have been verified, and search teams have intensified efforts to track them down. Senior officers described today’s action as “only the beginning” of a sustained campaign aimed at dismantling every node of the narcotics chain operating within and beyond the state. The next phase, they said, will rely heavily on network mapping, real-time monitoring, inter-agency coordination and stricter vigilance in border regions that act as entry corridors for narcotics.
Reiterating its commitment to eradicating drug trafficking, the Himachal Pradesh Police urged citizens to share any information related to chitta or narcotics movement without hesitation, assuring complete confidentiality of informants. Officials maintained that public cooperation remains the strongest pillar in protecting the state’s youth and breaking the drug supply web that has threatened communities for years.
About the Author
The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.