Drug menace on the rise in Kasauli villages

The drug menace is on the rise in rural areas of Kasauli where peddlers from other states are operating unhindered. The problem is more pronounced in areas near the Doon Assembly segment, as it offers a plethora of routes leading to various villages.

Villagers, who visit Baddi and its surrounding areas for education or employment, are lured into consuming heroin by their peers and once addicted they find its easy availability in the industrial belt. The situation is equally alarming in areas like Joharji lying on the Kumarhatti-Nahan road as the presence of several educational institutes in its proximity makes it a potential market for drug dealers.

Two youths were recently found consuming heroin by local villagers at Joharji Maiya village abutting the Kumarhatti-Nahan road. The villagers rued that the contraband was being sold with impunity and many youth have fallen prey to it.

The Solan police have busted 48 major inter-state networks and arrested more than 120 accused in the past year and a half but rural areas need more attention.

Disturbed by unhindered approach of peddlers, the residents are demanding a police post for the Chandi area falling under the jurisdiction of Kasauli police station.

“Since the nearest police post at Kuthar is unable to cater to the far end of the Kasauli Assembly segment, a new police post will help keep a vigil on the perpetrators of this drug trade,” said Anil Kumar of Hara Mehta village.

The Kuthar police post has two head constables and an equal number of constables and home guards plus an honorary constable. It caters to 13 panchayats and covers a population ]of around 35,000 and a distance of 7 km.

A new police post at Chandi would facilitate the people of three Assembly segments, including Kasauli, Arki and Doon as there’s no other police post in its proximity opined the villagers.

Drug seizures have been confined to the national and state highways while peddlers have found a new haven in the rural areas on the link roads. Solan SP Gaurav Singh said several suppliers active in the Kasauli Assembly segment had been arrested.

Himachal Tribune