Three held with 17-gram heroin

In a crackdown on drug trafficking, police arrested three individuals with 17.15 grams of chitta (heroin) in Rampur subdivision of Shimla district, officials said today. The accused have been identified as Prashant Negi and Avinash Thakur, both residents of Rakchham in Sangla tehsil of Kinnaur, and Diwan Josh of Boning Saring village in Sangla.

The police received a tip-off that a group was carrying heroin to Kinnaur for sale. Acting swiftly, a team intercepted a car (HP 25A 2807) near Bhaira Khad. On searching the vehicle, 17.15 grams of heroin was recovered, following which the accused were arrested and the contraband seized.

Confirming the development, Rampur SDPO Naresh Sharma said a case has been registered against the accused under Sections 21 (punishment for contravention in relation to manufactured drugs and preparations) and 29 (criminal conspiracy) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

He said preliminary investigation suggests the trio was involved in both selling and consuming heroin.