Himachal struggles with charas problem
The illegal narcotics trade is thriving in the hill state over the past decade. Out of the 900 NDPS cases, 300 cases have been registered in the last four months alone.
Unlike his Punjab counterpart Parkash Singh Badal, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Sunday took no time to accept that the hill state, too, has a serious drug problem.
While launching a drug awareness campaign in Shimla, he said the state has registered as much as 900 cases under the NDPS ( Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act and his government is committed to eradicate the menace.
" As many as 900 cases have been registered under the NDPS Act in the state and the illegal cultivation of narcotics has been destroyed on 5,000 bighas of land. The police department, I hope, will free the state of this menace soon and nab the drug- peddlers," Virbhadra Singh said.
The illegal narcotics trade is thriving in the hill state over the past decade. Out of the 900 NDPS cases, 300 cases have been registered in the last four months alone. A record 202 kg highend Charas has been seized during this period besides the seizure of opium, smack, ganja, poppy husk, cocaine and other intoxicating drugs.
As many as 531 NDPS cases were registered during 2013 and 314 kg charas was seized from various parts of the state followed by 513 cases in 2012 and seizure of 278 Kg charas.
Largest quantity of Charas i. e. 686 kg was however seized in 2009 followed by 2010 when 640 kg charas was seized.
Sources say Himachal Pradesh supplies up to 30 per cent of world's total charas.
High- end charas and opium cultivation is being done in state's remote areas like Malana in Kullu district, Kinnaur, Sirmour and Shimla districts.
The police claimed to have destroyed 18758 poppy plants from an area of 1.3 bighas recently. As much as 37,56,986 poppy plants were destroyed in 2011.
Himachal's remote tribal areas are known for growing top quality charas strains throughout the world. In order to satiate the ever- growing demand for the top quality charas strains throughout the world, charas smugglers have adopted new routes and methods for trafficking narcotics.
The smugglers are using state transport buses besides the trucks carrying the apple boxes. Sources say the smugglers hide charas consignments in luggage racks of buses and pick the same when the buses are parked inside the bus stands.
Cases of charas smuggling in state- owned transport buses in Kangra ( Dharamshala), Sirmour, Shimla and Solan districts have come to light.
Another national highway which is being considered safe by the charas smugglers is Manali- Leh route . Sources say the state transport buses and private vehicles beyong Keylong ( Lahaul- Spiti) are rarely checked and the consignments easily reach Leh from where it is smuggled through air route to Delhi.