In a major move to combat the narcotics menace, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has issued strict directives for a statewide crackdown on assets acquired through the illegal drug trade. The CM has ordered officials to identify all such properties and compile a detailed report on government employees involved in drug trafficking, with a deadline set for December 10.
Zero Tolerance on Drug-Tainted Assets and Rogue Employees
Chairing the sixth state-level meeting of the Narcotics Coordination Centre (NCORD) in Dharamshala, Chief Minister Sukhu made the government's stance unequivocally clear. He declared that properties purchased with money earned from the drug trade would be identified and subsequently demolished. Those involved in this illicit business will face severe and strict punishment, he warned.
Revealing alarming details, Sukhu informed that investigations have already uncovered 60 government employees, including 15 police personnel, involved in chitta (heroin) trafficking. While five of these individuals have already been dismissed from service, legal proceedings are actively underway against the remaining accused.
Multi-Pronged Strategy: From Sensitive Panchayats to School Clubs
The government is deploying a comprehensive strategy targeting both the supply and demand sides of the drug problem. The Chief Minister announced that special teams from the CID and police have been deployed in 234 panchayats identified as "highly sensitive" to narcotics activity. Deputy Commissioners have been directed to form anti-drug committees in these areas.
To ensure sustained action, the CM instructed that NCORD hold regular meetings in every district. Furthermore, anti-chitta walkathons will soon be organized at district and sub-division levels to raise public awareness and rally community support. Sukhu appealed to youth, women's groups, Panchayati Raj institution representatives, and voluntary organizations to actively join the mission for a drug-free Himachal.
On the preventive front, the state has made drug testing mandatory for all new government recruitments. Anti-drug clubs, Prahari clubs, and peer education programs are being revitalized in schools and colleges. Authorities are also maintaining strict surveillance on cannabis cultivation and conducting thorough inspections of pharmaceutical units.
Strengthening Prosecution and Tracking Results
To ensure legal consequences, the prosecution directorate has been directed to expedite appeals in NDPS cases, review acquittals, and work towards improving conviction rates. In a significant administrative step, parameters related to drug control—covering supply reduction, demand reduction, and harm reduction—will now be included in the Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) of officers, making them accountable for outcomes in their jurisdictions.
The CM highlighted the police's intensified actions, noting that over the last three years, 5,642 NDPS cases were registered, marking a 28% increase. These efforts led to 8,216 arrests and the seizure of over 36 kg of chitta. The stringent Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act has been invoked, leading to the detention of 46 notorious traffickers and the confiscation of illegal assets worth a staggering Rs 48 crore.
