Kangra Police bust Rave party at Dharamkot Hostel, recover Chitta, Opium & Charas
Dharamshala, Sept 15
Kangra Police has busted an alleged rave party at an EDM Hostel in Upper Dharamkot and recovered chitta, opium, charas and cannabis, in a fresh crackdown on drug-linked parties being organised at tourist destinations in Himachal Pradesh.
Acting on secret information received from a reliable source, a police team raided the EDM Hostel at Upper Dharamkot during the intervening night of September 13 and 14. During the search, police recovered 0.95 gram of chitta, 3.7 grams of opium, 1.33 grams of charas and 1.54 grams of cannabis flowers.
Fifteen persons were medically examined by the police in connection with the proceedings.
A case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been registered at Police Station McLeodganj against Aamir Khan, 35, a resident of Madhya Pradesh presently staying at Vishram Guest House/EDM Hotel, Upper Dharamkot, and Radhesh Ranjan Pajoria, 37, of Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, who is the alleged leaseholder/owner of the EDM Hostel.
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Preliminary investigation has revealed that the premises were allegedly being used for hosting rave parties on September 13 and 14. Police said its timely intervention disrupted the event and prevented its continuation.
Investigators have also found that the parties were allegedly being promoted through social media platforms and closed online groups. Screenshots and other digital evidence have been collected, while their further examination is underway.
The action comes at a time when the Himachal Pradesh High Court has sounded an alarm over the growing use of tourist destinations for commercial rave parties and drug-related activities. The court’s scrutiny of similar events in Kullu, particularly in Kasol and Parvati Valley, has highlighted concerns over narcotics, large commercial gatherings and possible lapses in regulation.
The High Court had earlier taken cognisance of media reports about rave parties in Kasol and subsequently, on June 24, directed action against senior district officials after an inspection report recorded recovery of liquor bottles, rolling papers and other material and FIRs involving tourists allegedly found with cocaine and LSD.
The matter later reached the Supreme Court, which stayed the High Court’s directions relating to registration of FIRs against the concerned officials and constitution of an SIT, while allowing the direction for their transfer to remain in force.
Against this backdrop, the Dharamkot raid assumes significance as the latest police action against alleged rave parties and drug-related activities at a major Himachal tourist destination.
Kangra Police said it would continue stringent action against persons involved in possession, supply, distribution and consumption of illicit drugs and against establishments allegedly facilitating or promoting such activities.
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