A major shake-up hit Himachal Pradesh police as 11 officers faced abrupt termination for their alleged roles in narcotics smuggling. This unprecedented cull highlights the insidious grip of drug cartels on law enforcement.
The implicated staffers exploited their positions at inter-state barriers and forested routes in areas such as Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti, and Hamirpur. They allegedly facilitated everything from poppy cultivation covers to interstate shipments of charas and cocaine.
Months of surveillance yielded confessions, seized mobiles with coded messages, and linkages to Punjab-based gangs. One constable amassed property worth lakhs, far beyond his salary, triggering the deeper dive.
Home Minister highlighted the dismissals in the assembly, assuring comprehensive reforms including biometric attendance and rotation policies for sensitive posts. ‘Integrity is non-negotiable,’ he asserted amid applause.
The fallout extends to judicial proceedings, with fast-track courts slated for trials. Public campaigns against drugs will ramp up, targeting schools and youth hubs where overdose cases have surged.
In the broader context, this reflects national trends of police infiltration in drug trades, from Goa beaches to Northeast trails. Himachal’s response sets a precedent, blending punitive measures with preventive strategies to reclaim its green hills from narco-shadows.