Minor caught with 24-gm heroin in Manali
In a shocking incident highlighting the deepening drug menace in Himachal, the police have apprehended a 14-year-old boy at Prini, under the jurisdiction of the Manali police station, with 24.70 grams of chitta (heroin). The boy, a resident of Punjab, was taken into custody after his suspicious movements near the Green Tax barrier raised alarm among law enforcement officers.
Upon searching the minor, officials uncovered the large quantity of the highly addictive synthetic drug. The police registered a case against him under Section 21 of the Narcotics Act and initiated an investigation to determine who may have coerced or involved him in drug trafficking at such a young age. His engagement in the illicit drug trade has raised concerns about the increasing use of minors as couriers by criminal networks.
Authorities are currently interrogating the boy under the supervision of his family members, striving to trace the source of the drugs and identify the people responsible for drawing the youth into this dangerous activity.
Kullu Superintendent of Police (SP) Karthikeyan Gokulachandran confirmed the detention and emphasised the need for stringent measures to combat the growing problem of synthetic drug abuse in the region.
In another incident that underscores the expanding reach of synthetic drugs in Himachal Pradesh, police arrested two Israeli nationals with 22.8 gram of ketamine in Pulga, located in the scenic Manikaran Valley. During a targeted raid at a local restaurant in Pulga, law enforcement officials encountered a crowd, including two foreign nationals, Haviv Gill and Kapah Liran. Their behaviour raised suspicion, prompting officers to search them. The search resulted in the recovery of 12.84 grams of ketamine from one suspect and 9.96 grams from the other.
Ketamine, a powerful anesthetic, is often misused as a party drug due to its hallucinogenic effects, making this seizure significant. Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sanjeev Chauhan stated that investigation was underway to determine the source of the drugs and the network facilitating their distribution.
The ASP added that the Israeli embassy has been informed about the arrests and a case has been registered under Section 22 of the Narcotics Act. Authorities are working on gathering intelligence regarding the involvement of foreign nationals in the illegal drug trade in the area, an issue that has troubled Manikaran Valley for years.
