Charas Cases Registered in 2014

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Himachal Police Tightens Noose on Drug Peddlers

Hira Lal Thakur

Himachal Pradesh is famous for its natural beauty, simple people, lifestyle and safe environment. Every native of the state has its invaluable contribution to achieve this status and same can be said about the administrative machinery. However, sometimes people of the state do not appreciate some efforts. Same happened with the police department which generally gets less appreciation for its efforts. In spite of that cops are busy in performing their tough duty and welcome changes are visible, thanks to their determination. Regions of Kullu and Mandi districts are ill-famous for the production and utilization of deadly drug charas for a long time but the situation is changing continuously with the passage of time. All credit goes to Himachal Police which has ensured that drug peddling to various parts of the country and even to abroad through the boundaries of Kullu and Manali district is no longer a safe affair. Official figures reveal that as many as 83 cases of charas smuggling have been registered in the first quarter of 2014. These 83 cases have been registered in Mandi and Kullu district only, which are 40% of total registered 209 incidents of Charas smuggling throughout the state during the same time period. Police record shows that a total of 151.3 kilogram of charas has been seized across Himachal in the aforesaid period. As for as Mandi district is concerned, 59 cases of charas has been registered in first three months of ongoing year while 24 cases of charas smuggling have been registered by able team of Kullu police. Other cases have been registered in other parts of the state. This welcome change is not a result of overnight efforts but department has worked hard for a long time to draw out nearly a fool proof plan to put noose on charas mafia in Kullu and Mandi region. Spokesman of Kullu district police and DSP Sanjay Sharma revealed to Himachal This Week that department has developed a plan under which cops nab charas smugglers at Bajaura station of Kullu district. Others who manage to escape from Bajaura are being nabbed at Mandi. Notably, few parts of the state are also famous for charas production. That is why state government, administration, police department and majority of general public want to get rid from this infamous identity attached with the name of Himachal Pradesh.

Charas Cases Registered in 2014
District    Cases
Mandi    59
Kullu    24
Chamba    33
Shimla    27
CID    10
BBN    9
Bilaspur    8
Hamirpur    6
Kangra    8
Kinnaur    1
Sirmaur    15
Solan     7
Una    2
Total    209

 Social Welfare Schemes of Police Gathering Dust

Devender Verma

Other than providing security and maintaining law and order, Himachal Police also takes various initiatives for social cause. However it is another story that some of these pledges do not become fruitful in true manner. One of these commitments was to provide education to those children whom civilized people called street children. These poor pour homeless souls have to work hard for petty living and can’t afford to go to school. The state police department had decided to provide education to such children to empower them so that their lives become easy. The policy was formulated during the tenure when Ashwani Kumar was DGP of the state police. It was decided then that better care of such children should be taken and model schools should be opened at every police station to make them better citizen of the future. It was planned that help of Education Department and Labour Department will also be taken to bring these poor children to such schools. It was decided that hostel facility should also be provided to these children at Rampur, Mandi and Dharamshala. No doubt, it was a revolutionary thought but things did not materializ after Ashwani Kumar was transferred to the CBI. In the present scenario only Shimla Sadar Police Station is providing education according to the plan and no step has been taken in rest of the state. Experts believe that only police department is not culprit in this regard, but labour and education departments also did not move their good step forward.

10,000 Children Out of Education Facility

Sources said that despite literacy revolution in the state still 10,000 children are there who do not go to schools. They want to have education but compulsion of earning livelihood compel them to work in dhabas, tea shops and hotels where they wash dish etc. or work as truck cleaner or coolies. Keeping this situation in view a Norway based organization had approved a project for the betterment of street children of Himachal but it never realized in actual practice. It was the same project under which hostel facility was scheduled to be provided at Rampur, Mandi and Dharamshala, but all in vain. However Sadar Police Station of Shimla deserves all compliments as about 30 street children are being educated there who believe that their life will change soon.

 The Scheme

According to the scheme it was decided that all street children who wonder here and there will be brought to a model school on every police station level. It was proposed that education department will provide a teacher to every such school who will educate these children for their better future.