Sat Mar 01 13:17:36 UTC 2025: ## Himachal Pradesh Launches Crackdown on Drug Trade
**Shimla, March 1, 2025** – Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has announced a major crackdown on the state’s drug trade, vowing a zero-tolerance policy and promising swift action against those involved. In a high-level meeting on Saturday, Mr. Sukhu ordered the police to dismantle the drug network within six months, targeting both peddlers and any government employees implicated.
The Chief Minister declared that government employees found to be involved in drug trafficking will face immediate termination. Further, the properties of drug peddlers will be seized, and their bank accounts investigated. To strengthen the anti-drug effort, the Anti-Narcotics Task Force will be bolstered, and a new Special Task Force will be established under a senior police officer.
Mr. Sukhu emphasized the need for comprehensive mapping of drug peddlers and victims down to the panchayat level, demanding a report by March 15th. Pharmaceutical companies will also face increased scrutiny, with licenses revoked and FIRs filed against those involved in the illegal sale of psychotropic drugs. The state government plans to introduce the Himachal Pradesh Anti-Drug Act during the upcoming Budget session to differentiate between victims and perpetrators.
Meanwhile, in neighboring Punjab, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated that the Aam Aadmi Party government is also engaged in a decisive war against drugs, focusing on disrupting supply lines. The crackdown in Himachal Pradesh reflects a growing concern across the region about the pervasive nature of the drug trade.
First Piper 