Himachal Youth Trapped in Drug Addiction, Car Pledged for ₹1 Lakh to Buy Chitta

Drug Addiction Pushes Youth Towards Crime: Car Pledged for Chitta in Shimla

Drug addiction among youth in Himachal Pradesh is emerging as a serious concern, pushing young people towards crime and destruction. To meet their drug needs, many youths are resorting to theft, robbery, and other criminal activities.

In a recent case from Shimla district, a youth mortgaged his car for just ₹1 lakh to purchase chitta. During the investigation, it was revealed that after pledging the car, the accused was returning to Shimla with the drugs when the police intercepted him near Shoghi.

Preliminary police investigation revealed that the accused was addicted to drugs for a long time and was willing to go to any extent to satisfy his addiction. The police are now working to identify and trace the drug supplier involved in the case.

Several past incidents have shown that drug addiction has led youths to commit house burglaries, robberies, and snatching incidents. Similar cases were earlier reported from the Tutikandi area, where people were robbed under the pretext of offering lifts.

Many accused arrested in such cases have confessed during interrogation that they committed crimes solely to arrange money for drugs. Recent snatching incidents in the city are also believed to be linked to drug addiction.

Shimla police are continuously taking strict action to dismantle the chitta trafficking network. Since the beginning of the new year, multiple raids have been conducted, leading to the arrest of suppliers from other states as well.

Ten Accused Sent to Jail Under PIT NDPS Act

Along with regular action, police are also invoking the PIT NDPS Act against habitual drug traffickers. So far, ten such accused have been arrested and sent to jail for a period of three months, which may be extended if required.

According to police officials, despite being arrested multiple times, these individuals continued to engage in drug trafficking, posing a serious threat to the youth of the district. Strict action is being taken to curb this menace.