War on drugs: Solan cops net 423 peddlers in 2 years

In a determined bid to curb the activities of habitual drug offenders, the Solan police have detained six such criminals, including two notorious peddlers, over the past five months. “Habitual offenders are being taken into preventive custody under the provisions of the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (PIT NDPS) Act, 1988. They are sent to jail for three months each,” explained Solan SP Gaurav Singh.

Among the recently incarcerated offenders are Uved Khan, a resident of Sirinagar village in Kandaghat, and Sachin Thakur, a resident of Shilli village in Solan. Both have been booked by the Advisory Board for Drug Abuse, which took serious note of their repeated involvement in drug trafficking.

“Considering the gravity of their offences, preventive custody has been extended: Uved Khan will now remain in jail for six months, while Sachin Thakur’s detention has been increased to four months,” said SP Singh, who has been leading the crackdown against drug networks.

So far this year, the Solan police have registered 70 cases and arrested 114 accused, including 27 from other states. Over the last two years, the force has booked 423 peddlers in 200 cases, of which 142 hail from outside Himachal Pradesh—states like Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra and even foreign nationals, including nine Africans. Going a step further, police have also initiated financial investigations, resulting in the seizure of assets worth Rs 8.5 crore from offenders. This has dealt a significant blow to the drug trade and curtailed the supply of dangerous contraband, particularly heroin.