In a major operation against drug trafficking, the Special Task Force (STF) of Himachal Pradesh Police recovered 256 grams of heroin, commonly known as “chitta,” and arrested five people in two separate raids under the state government’s ongoing ‘Anti-Chitta Campaign’.
According to police officials, the first operation was carried out on May 16 near Dhuga Danga on the Pathankot-Chamba National Highway in Chamba district. STF personnel intercepted a suspicious vehicle and recovered 204 grams of heroin during the search. Four accused, all residents of Amritsar in Punjab, were arrested on the spot. A case was registered under multiple sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Chowari Police Station.
In another operation in Kullu district, the STF team conducted a raid at a house in Patlikuhal following a tip-off. During the search, officials seized 52 grams of heroin from the room of a suspect identified as Tinku. He was immediately taken into custody, and further investigation is underway.
The crackdown is part of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s ‘Chitta-Mukt Himachal’ mission aimed at eliminating drug abuse and trafficking from the hill state. The state government has intensified anti-drug operations over the past year, with authorities identifying several high-risk areas and strengthening surveillance in vulnerable districts.
Officials said the Himachal Pradesh Police and STF are carrying out coordinated operations to dismantle drug supply chains and target traffickers. The state government has also introduced strict measures including property seizures, financial investigations, mandatory drug testing for government job applicants and professional college admissions, and rehabilitation initiatives for addicts.
The recent seizures highlight growing concerns over heroin trafficking in Himachal Pradesh, especially in districts bordering neighbouring states. Police officials reiterated that the anti-drug campaign would continue aggressively, warning traffickers that stringent legal action would be taken against anyone involved in the narcotics trade.
