Four Himachal Pradesh Anti-Drug Task Force Officers Arrested in LSD Trafficking Scandal
In a shocking development, police in Shimla have arrested four members of the Kullu district anti-drug special task force (STF) on Thursday. The officers are accused of colluding with a multi-crore inter-state LSD trafficking network, marking a severe breach of trust within law enforcement.
Details of the Drug Seizure and Investigation
The case originated on March 10, when authorities seized 562 LSD strips, weighing 11.57 grams and valued at over Rs 1.1 crore. The contraband was recovered from Sandeep Sharma, a 40-year-old resident of Moga in Punjab, and Priya Sharma, a 26-year-old from Dadahu in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur district. The seizure occurred in the BCS area of Shimla, sparking an intensive investigation.
Subsequent probes led to the arrest of the main supplier, Naviel Harrison, a 27-year-old from Calicut, Kerala, on March 13 in Gurugram. According to Shimla ASP Abhishek, the four STF officers—two head constables and two constables—allegedly assisted the traffickers, Sharma and Harrison, while attempting to intercept the LSD consignment in Kullu. This act has been condemned as a heinous crime involving criminal conspiracy, gross indiscipline, and moral misconduct.
Arrested Officers and Disciplinary Actions
The arrested cops have been identified as Rajesh Kumar, 40, from 14 Mile village in Manali; Sameer, 40, from Parla, Bhunter; Nitesh, 46, from Bajora village, Bhunter; and Ashok Kumar, 42, from Bashing village, Kullu. In response to the allegations, the additional director general of police, CID, suspended all four officers on March 16. They are scheduled to be presented before a Shimla court on Friday, where legal proceedings will commence.
This incident highlights significant vulnerabilities within anti-drug operations and raises concerns about internal corruption. The arrest of these officers underscores the ongoing challenges in combating drug trafficking networks in the region, emphasizing the need for stricter oversight and accountability in law enforcement agencies.
