Solan
Health & Family Welfare Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil in a press statement issued from Shimla today said that the present state government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was taking strong and effective measures to curb drug abuse in the state. Unlike the previous BJP government, which conveniently turned a blind eye to the drug menace, we were actively cracking down on drug mafia and ensuring strict action in coordination with the state police and other relevant agencies.
He said that the previous BJP government did not introduce strict laws nor took any serious action against drug cartels. In fact, its entire tenure saw the PIT-NDPS Act gathering dust and was completely ignored. However, within just four months of coming to power, the present government has issued the notification and began taking strong action against the drug mafia. This legal provision allows authorities to detain repeat offenders involved in drug trafficking and prevent them from endangering society. So far, the competent authority has already presented 81 cases under this Act.
Following the clear instructions of the Chief Minister, the police in the past six months have intensified crackdown on drug mafia, dismantling their networks and seizing their illegally acquired properties. In the last three years, assets worth Rs. 16 crore-illegally accumulated through drug trade have been seized, with Rs. 9 crore worth of property confiscated just last year, which was a stark contrast to the BJP’s inaction during their tenure.
In 2024 alone, 2515 individuals were arrested under the NDPS Act, with major strides taken to dismantle the drug trafficking network. For the first time in Himachal’s history, large-scale raids were conducted across 40–50 locations, leading to significant drug seizures.
To further tighten the noose around drug peddlers, he said the state government was considering introducing the Himachal Pradesh Anti-Drug Act in the upcoming Assembly session. This legislation would ensure even stricter action against drug-related crimes. The government would not tolerate drug dealers, and we were fully committed to making Himachal Pradesh a drug-free state.
The Minister said to reinforce our efforts, the Cabinet has recently approved the formation of a Special Task Force (STF) dedicated to tackling the drug problem. This STF would have the necessary authority to take decisive action and curb the growing drug menace. Meanwhile, awareness campaigns were being conducted across the state, and the government was strengthening interstate coordination to intercept drug smugglers attempting to bring narcotics into Himachal from neighboring states.
