Bhanu P Lohumi
Tribune News Service
Shimla, July 25
A significant increase has been witnessed in the chitta cases, surpassing all other drugs, in Shimla district. Chitta/heroin has been recovered from the possession of the accused in over 62 per cent (98 out of 156) of the NDPS cases registered in the district this year.
Most addicts in 19-35 age group
- Chitta was recovered in 98 out of 156 NDPS cases registered in Shimla district this year
- About 77 per cent of the accused were in the age group of 19 -35 years
- Peddlers of 10 states and two countries were involved in smuggling
- People (addicts) from affluent families also becoming peddlers to afford chitta
Focus is on catching big fish
The abuse of chitta has emerged as a major challenge and the focus is on nabbing the big fish. We are working on the backward and forward linkages to nab the kingpins and nip the evil in the bud. Monika Bhutunguru, SP, Shimla
As many as 156 cases under the NDPS Act have been registered in the district from January 1 to July 20 as compared to 145 cases in the corresponding period last year. Chitta was recovered in 98 cases while charas was recovered in 45 cases, opium in eight cases and poppy husk and morphine in one case each this year.
With a rise in the number of addicts consuming chitta, a market has been created for the same in Himachal and Shimla is no exception. The number of women arrested in theses cases has increased marginally and people (addicts) of affluent families are also becoming peddlers to afford chitta, which costs Rs 4,000-6,000 per gram.
The Shimla police have so far arrested 235 persons, including 225 males and 10 females, as compared to 213 persons, including 209 males and four females, arrested last year. The number of persons arrested in chitta cases and the quantity of the drug seized have both increased. As many as 156 persons were arrested in 98 cases with 2.135 kg of heroin/chitta in 2022 in comparison to 117 arrests in 70 cases with the seizure of 865 gm of the drug last year.
Peddlers from 10 states and two countries were involved in smuggling. As many as 192 accused are from Himachal, nine from Haryana, five from Delhi, four from UP, three each from Punjab, Uttarakhand and Bihar, two from Rajasthan and one each from Chandigarh and Jamp;K, while 10 and two accused were from Nepal and Nigeria, respectively.
"The abuse of chitta has emerged as a major challenge and the focus is on nabbing the big fish.
We are working on the backward and forward linkages to nab the kingpins and nip the evil in the bud," said SP, Shimla, Monika Bhutunguru.
Strengthening of Intelligence network, constitution of Nasha Nivaran Samitis at the police station level, introduction of register 29 to keep drug trafficking operators under surveillance, financial investigations in NDPS cases and installation of CCTV cameras to zero in on illegal activities are some of the steps taken by the police to put a tab on the drug trade, she added.
Courtesy: Tribune News Service