Kangra police bust illegal drug racket operating from pvt clinic

In a major crackdown on the illegal drug trade, the Kangra police have busted an alleged racket operating under the guise of a private clinic and recovered a large quantity of banned medicines from the Nagrota Bagwan area of the district.

The police said the action was part of an ongoing district-wide campaign against drug trafficking and the illegal sale of psychotropic substances.

Officials said a special team of Kangra police was conducting an intelligence-gathering operation regarding narcotics and illegal drug activities in the Kachhiyari area on Thursday when it received credible information about the illegal storage and sale of restricted medicines at Ashu Skin and Ortho Clinic located on the 53 Mile–Yol Road.

Acting on the tip-off, the police team conducted a raid at the clinic in the presence of independent witnesses and a drug inspector.

During the search operation, the police recovered 300 capsules of Tramadol, 900 tablets of Clonazepam and 68 tablets of Alprazolam from the clinic premises.

The accused has been identified as Anil Kumar (43), a resident of Brahampur village in Gurdaspur district. Police officials said the accused failed to produce any valid licence or legal documents authorising possession or sale of the restricted medicines.

The recovered medicines were seized and the accused was arrested on the spot. A case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been registered at the Nagrota Bagwan police station.

Further investigation is underway to ascertain the source of supply and possible links to a wider network involved in illegal drug distribution.

Superintendent of Police Ashok Ratan said the Kangra police would continue strict action against individuals involved in drug trafficking and the illegal sale of psychotropic substances.

“The district police are maintaining zero tolerance towards drugs and strict action will continue against anyone found involved in such illegal activities. We also appeal to the public to cooperate with the police and immediately share information related to drugs and other unlawful activities so that society can be protected from the menace of addiction,” he said.