‘Operation Naya Savera’: Kangra Police busts Punjab based drug supply chain

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Dharmashala, June 23

Kangra Police have achieved a major breakthrough under their special anti-drug campaign ‘Operation Naya Savera’ by arresting three key accused allegedly linked to an inter-state heroin (chitta) trafficking network operating from Punjab.

The arrests were made following a backward investigation into the drug supply chain, with police identifying the accused as Gaurav Sahota, Honey alias Somnath, and Honey Kumar alias Rishi Kumar. Kangra Superintendent of Police (SP) Ashok Ratna confirmed the arrests and said preliminary investigations, technical evidence, and analysis of financial transactions indicated their significant role in the network.

According to police, Honey Kumar was allegedly a key supplier who provided heroin to the main accused, Abhishek Sahota, while Gaurav Sahota and Honey alias Somnath were involved in managing money generated through drug-related activities and handling financial transactions.

SP Ashok Ratna said special teams of the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) Kangra were sent to different locations in Punjab to trace and arrest the accused. He added that the police action was not limited to arrests but was aimed at dismantling the entire drug network and its financial structure.

During the financial investigation, police found indications that money earned through drug trafficking was being invested through other channels. Authorities are now examining properties and bank accounts and identifying other individuals connected to the network.

The SP said suspicious transactions amounting to around ₹40 lakh had surfaced over the past three to four months. These transactions were allegedly carried out through various bank accounts, Lok Mitra Kendras, and QR scanner-based payments and are currently under detailed investigation.

Ashok Ratna said 17 notorious drug smugglers from Kangra district have already been detained and sent to Dharamshala jail. Additionally, around 9 to 10 cases have been forwarded to the government for further consideration.

Police have identified 25 suppliers who allegedly returned to drug-related activities after getting bail. Action under the PIT-NDPS Act has been initiated against them, and properties worth around ₹75 lakh have been attached. So far, assets worth more than ₹5 crore have been seized in the district, with further action expected.

Appealing to parents, SP Ashok Ratna urged families to recognise signs of drug addiction among youngsters and cooperate with police. He said that a person consuming drugs today could attempt to become a supplier tomorrow, making timely intervention crucial.

He also advised people to remain alert to possible indicators of drug use, such as burnt foil paper, burnt spoons, or rolled currency notes found at home. He urged families to report suspicious activities to the police.

Police said that three FIRs — 57/2026, 59/2026, and 61/2026 — have been registered at Palampur Police Station so far. In these cases, 21 accused have been arrested, while 167.18 grams of heroin (chitta), one pickup vehicle, and 18 electronic devices have been recovered. Further investigation is underway.