Cops to rope in locals to check drug trade

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, July 16

The district police have decided to launch a street dominance operation at the village level in order to keep tabs on drug peddlers.

The district has turned into a safe haven for drug peddlers, who, despite a strict vigil, are managing to give the police the slip. Besides the smuggling of cannabis, popularly known as ‘Malana cream’, the menace of synthetic drugs has also gripped youths of the district, who are a soft target of drug peddlers.

Kullu SP Shalini Agnihotri said the operation would be carried out with the help of the locals, who have been asked to provide information to the police as soon as they notice any such activity in their areas.

The SP said in February, the police, in association with the Nehru Yuva Kendra and Rangers and Rovers, had initiated a project named, ‘Sehbhahgita – Hamari aur Apki”. Several dug peddlers were nabbed following tip-offs from the public. She said the identity of the informer was kept secret.

“We have received more than 150 calls so far complaining about illegal liquor sale, gambling, drug abuse and other social evils. Police officials have been directed not to disclose the identity of the informers,” she said.

She said all SHOs had been asked to deploy policemen, who could immediately respond to tip-offs received by the public.