Nasha Nivaran Samitis yield positive results

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 27

There has been an increase of 5 per cent in the number of cases registered under the NDPS Act following the constitution of Nasha Nivaran Samitis to keep a check on drug peddlers and addicts.

A total of 1,439 cases were registered against 1,925 persons, including 12 foreigners, in 2019 as compared to 1,342 cases against 1,722 persons, including 10 foreigners, which is 7.2 per cent more. About 5 per cent cases could be cracked due to information given by members of the samitis. “These bodies have been constituted in about 90 per cent of the 3,226 panchayats in the state,” said DGP SR Mardi, adding that women had come forward in villages and cases of anti-social elements involved in peddling, drug abuse, cultivation of cannabis and opium were being reported.

The Drug-free Himachal app is also getting a good response as the identity of the complainant is kept a secret. “Over 10,000 persons have downloaded the app,” he said, maintaining that the target for 2020 was 1 lakh downloads.

These samitis have SHOs as their in-charge and members are from all sections of society, including women, NGOs, youth, Health and Education Departments, mediapersons, retired police officers, ex-servicemen, Beopar Mandals and chemists. The membership is voluntary, but a person involved or facing charges of illegal or immoral activities can’t be a member.

A maximum of 259 cases were registered in Kangra district, followed by Kullu 226, Mandi 181, Shimla 173, Bilaspur 120 and Solan 108 in 2019. The police seized 327.2 kg of charas, 17.05 kg of opium, 1305.7 kg of poppy husk, 21.3 kg of ganja, 8.568 kg of heroin, 150.1 gram of smack and 12,268,0 tablets and capsules in 2019.

“Direct inputs increased the number of cases by about 5 per cent, but indirect information about locations helped the police identify specific points of drug abuse and peddling,” said Shimla SP Omapati Jamwal.

Other steps taken by the Himachal Police to curb the drug menace include the Nisha Nivaran Helpline 1908 and campaigns roping in religious and political leaders.

Cases in past 5 years

2019 — 1,435

2018 —1,342

2017 —1,010

2016 — 929

2015 — 622