Himachal Police constable dismissed from service for involvement in drug peddling

Constable Lalit Kanwar of the Himachal Police has been dismissed from police service after an inquiry proved his complicity in drug peddling.

The genesis of the case lies in the arrest of a youth, Harish Sharma (31), by the Dharampur police on May 16 for possession of heroin. After booking the youth under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the Dharampur police traced its backward linkages. The police found the involvement of the constable in illicit trade as he had made a payment to the drug supplier using an app.

A resident of Jabli village, the 28-year old police officer was arrested on June 19, following which a departmental inquiry was initiated against him. The probe proved his guilt and established his complicity in the crime, which violated departmental discipline and rules.

“While the Himachal Pradesh government has adopted a policy of zero tolerance for drug peddling, such an act cannot be tolerated from within the department,” said Solan SP Gaurav Singh.

Elaborating on the department’s anti-drug initiatives, the SP said, “The police is taking strict action to nab perpetrators of drug trade to eliminate this nefarious activity. We are hitting out at both the supply and demand.”