For the last decade and a half, Himachal Pradesh has been fighting against drug abuse, only to see the problem grow. The issue has gone out of hand, irrespective of the government in power, largely because catchy slogans against drugs have often been raised more for political mileage rather than a comprehensive strategy on ground to check the drug menace.
Although all governments in the past have acknowledged the seriousness of the drug problem and claimed making strategies accordingly, the previous BJP government headed by Jai Ram Thakur was the first to admit publicly that the drug menace had become a big problem in Himachal Pradesh despite several efforts. He had urged the community to join hands with the government to check the problem.
The previous government not only brought neighbouring states together to fight the menace jointly but also constituted a Nasha Nivaran Board and appointed a former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officer as its convener to come up with a comprehensive drug policy. The policy aimed to integrate enforcement, address the human aspect of young victims, and strengthen rehabilitation mechanisms. While the policy was framed, the anti-drug campaign in Himachal Pradesh suffered a jolt due to weak implementation on the ground.
The change in power in 2022 brought a gap in vision on drug menace with the new government having its own strategy to deal with the issue.
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu focused on introducing stricter legal clauses to punish those involved in drug trafficking and depended more on the police machinery rather than involving different departments such as Excise and Taxation. His outreach efforts, especially awareness campaigns in schools and the anti-chitta drive, have made an impact, but these initiatives need to be supported by strong action on the ground.
Unlike Punjab, which is often used as a pathway for trafficking, Himachal Pradesh has not only been witness to substance abuse with synthetic drugs being trafficked into Himachal from other states, but is also troubled by illegal cultivation of cannabis and opium on large chunks of forest and private land across the districts and is a perfect ground for drug trafficking to other parts of the country and abroad.
Border areas such as Kangra, Una and Solan districts are reportedly witnessing widespread substance abuse, particularly chitta, with supplies mainly coming from Punjab. And of late, there is a phenomenon of drugs being made available to students in colleges and Universities through organized gangs.
“There has to be strict enforcement, intensive monitoring and an alternative development plan for those who are into illicit cultivation and trafficking of poppy and cannabis for livelihood. To check abuse, the law enforcement agencies of the state and centre should nab the drug supply link-ups, rather than just nabbing individuals. And we need a comprehensive strategy, integrating all departments concerned,” said OP Sharma, former convener of Nasha Nivaran Board and former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Officer from Himachal Pradesh.
People in Himachal Pradesh generally feel that the ‘double standards” and piecemeal approach of the successive government on drugs has aggravated the problem. The Police role has also not been upto the mark. Barring a few police officials, cops too have not shown the courage and commitment to enforce the law strictly for reasons unknown. There is no foolproof mechanism for intelligence inputs on drug trading and no committed manpower to check the drug menace on ground and rehabilitate the victims of drug abuse. The synthetic drugs are allegedly sold through chains outside educational institutions in Shimla and other cities right under the nose of the state police and the students can be seen consuming them in dark corners that any resident would know.
“HP is engaged in a decisive battle against Chitta now. We have launched a comprehensive and uncompromising offensive against this lethal drug, which poses a grave threat to the future of our youth. Strict and decisive action is underway to uproot the ‘chitta termite’ from its very roots through the unyielding force of the law,” said the Chief Minister. He said that drug traffickers, suppliers, and those providing protection to these illicit networks were being systematically targeted, using advanced technology besides a strengthened intelligence framework and stringent legal provisions to dismantle organized narcotics cartels. “This campaign is not merely a law enforcement initiative but a people’s mass movement to protect the core identity and social fabric of Himachal Pradesh,” the CM added.
As per official records, the police carried out simultaneous raids at 121 locations across the state on November 22, giving a major blow to top drug trafficking networks. Three days later, intensive checking drives were conducted in 51 educational institutions and around 598 shops, markets and areas surrounding colleges. This led to the registration of 12 NDPS cases and the issuance of 385 challans.
Sixteen notorious traffickers were arrested on December 7 under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs (PIT) and NDPS Acts. A total of 63 traffickers have been arrested so far, 1214 traffickers and suspects have been identified and 950 illegal properties have been earmarked for stringent action.
“Assets worth over Rs. 50 crore have been seized under the NDPS Act, compared to Rs 13 crore seized over the previous government’s three-year tenure,” claimed the CM.
All said and done, combating the drug menace has become both an administrative responsibility of the government and a social responsibility of citizens. A sustained and collective effort is needed to prevent this growing menace from destroying the peaceful social environment of Himachal Pradesh and its future generations. Monetary rewards for informing about chitta suppliers alone will not be enough unless communities are sensitised to address the root causes that push youth towards drugs.
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