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Shimla, June 26
The Himachal Pradesh government has announced that an anti chitta test will be made mandatory for all future government recruitments as part of its intensified campaign against drug abuse. Acting Chief Secretary K.K. Pant made the announcement on Friday while observing International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which was marked across the state as Anti Chitta Day. In a major anti-narcotics drive, the state government and Himachal Pradesh Police jointly destroyed narcotic substances worth nearly Rs 13.28 crore in the international market. The seized drugs had been confiscated under the NDPS Act and were scientifically destroyed at 10 locations across the state.
Addressing the program, Pant said the government is taking comprehensive steps to eliminate the menace of chitta from the state. He added that the performance of Deputy Commissioners across all districts would also be assessed based on their efforts to tackle drug-related crimes.
Pant said large consignments of chitta are regularly seized, and investigations are no longer limited to street-level traffickers. He said police are conducting financial investigations to identify and take action against the masterminds behind the drug network.
Additional Director General of Police Gyaneshwar Singh said the issue was discussed in detail during the NCORD meeting held in Delhi. He said chitta primarily enters Himachal Pradesh through Punjab, and police are working closely with central agencies and other enforcement bodies to curb interstate trafficking. He added that the formation of the Inter-State Drug Secretariat has further strengthened the crackdown, enabling police to target everyone involved in the drug chain from kingpins to consumers. Director General of Police Ashok Tiwari said strict action against drug traffickers will continue across the state. Referring to a recent Nihang-related incident in Uttarakhand, he said the Himachal-Uttarakhand border remains peaceful and that Himachal Pradesh Police is in constant coordination with Uttarakhand Police while closely monitoring the border areas.
The Himachal Pradesh Police also appealed to residents to immediately report any information related to the trafficking, sale, storage, or consumption of chitta or other narcotic substances by calling 112 or contacting the nearest police station. Officials assured that the identity of informants would remain confidential and that prompt action would be taken on every credible input.
