16 chitta traffickers detained in statewide crackdown

The Himachal Pradesh Police today detained 16 major chitta traffickers under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT NDPS) Act, 1988, in one of the largest synchronised crackdowns conducted in recent months. The coordinated operation was carried out simultaneously across multiple districts to dismantle entrenched drug networks.

According to officials, four traffickers each were detained from Solan and Police District Dehra, three from Baddi, two from Nurpur and one each from Hamirpur, Mandi and Sirmaur. With this action, the total number of detentions under the PIT-NDPS Act in the state has climbed to 62.

Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Tewari, sharing details of the operation, said that since the Act came into force in Himachal Pradesh in 2023, police have detained 46 major drug traffickers and seized illegal assets worth ?48 crore through parallel financial investigations. He emphasised that the state government and police are following a strict zero-tolerance approach toward narcotics.

As part of the broader anti-drug awareness campaign, anti-chitta walkathons were organised in Shimla on November 15 and in Dharamsala on December 1. The Chief Minister has issued firm directives to police and allied agencies to ensure the complete eradication of chitta from the state.

DGP Tewari added that during the 6th State-Level NCORD meeting held recently in Dharamsala, chaired for the first time by the CM, an extensive review of ongoing anti-drug operations was conducted. The Chief Minister called for transforming the campaign into a statewide people’s movement.

Appealing for public support, the police urged citizens, especially the youth, to share drug-related information via helpline 112 or at local police stations, assuring complete confidentiality of informants.