Chitta Smuggling: 24 Government Employees Arrested Due to Shimla Police’s Timely Call
Shimla, March 09, 2025 — In a significant crackdown under the ongoing Mission Clean-Bharosa campaign, the Shimla Police have arrested 24 employees of various government departments for their involvement in Chitta smuggling and drug abuse. This operation is part of a larger plan from the police to wipe the drug trade out as more and more individuals are involved, including of government circles. The list of these employees has also been sent to the Chief Secretary by the authorities along with a demand for tough departmental action against them.
The arrested are from a range of professions and departments, illustrating how deeply the drug trade had penetrated the public sector. Among the arrested employees are personnel from Himachal Pradesh Police, Punjab Police, doctors, bank managers, education department officials, patwaris, forest guards and public works department workers. No matter how powerful or who they are, if the people remains served, the Shimla Police will leave no stone unturned.
The Arrests and What Led to Them
Shimla Police launched the operation on the orders of SSP Sanjeev Gandhi and has so far detained several types of government employees in the drive. Among those arrested are:
- Two Himachal Police personnel: Jugal Kishore and Lakshya
- Two Punjab Police officers: Ajay Kumar and Devendra Kumar
- A doctor: Siddharth
- Tehsil Welfare Officer: Mukul Chauhan
- Civil Supply Department employee: Yashwant Thakur
- Senior Assistant from the Education Department: Trilok Negi
- Assistant Manager at UCO Bank: Vinay Garg
- Inspector at Cooperative Society: Aditya Sharma
- Beldar from the Jal Shakti Department: Purushottam
- Patwari: Vijay Kumar
- Pump Operator in the Jal Shakti Department: Brij Mohan
- Teacher in the Education Department: Vijendra Singh Rawat
- Forest Guards: Prashant Rathore and Aneesh
- Electricity Department personnel: Ajay Kumar
- Lab Technician: Aman Kumar
- HRTC Driver: Anoop Kumar
- Mechanic: Pawan Kumar
- Public Works Department employee: Rakesh Kumar
The list shows just how far the drug network’s reach extended, involving elements from all sorts of government agencies and highlighting how serious things had gotten. It also sends a not-so-subtle message that no position, no title, is irrelevant to the consequences of illegal activity.
Police’s Hard Line
“The raid is the start of an elaborate plan to make the district drug-free,” SSP Sanjeev Gandhi stressed. Gandhi, in a statement, said that the “mission of Shimla police has been to completely rid this region of the drug menace. No one, regardless of their office or position, will be untouchable if they engage in the trade of drugs. The rule of law applies equally to everyone.”
In the ongoing investigation of the Shimla Police, not only the employees have also been arrested, but a complete list of the enrolled employees has also been prepared and was obtained by the police and verified and sent to the Chief Secretary’s office for immediate departmental action. In particular, they have required these individuals to be removed from their government roles so that further such criminal activity can take place.
Zero Tolerance: The Chief Minister’s Position
Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday backed the actions of the police and asserted the state government’s zero-tolerance policy against drugs. At a high-level meeting on drug abuse, Sukhu asked the Shimla Police to step up their efforts and assured that strict punishment will be given to those involved in the drug trade.
“The government has zero tolerance for drugs. No one will be spared, including government employees or influential people,” the Chief Minister said. He added, however, something only indirectly connected to the drug trade, that anyone caught dealing in drugs would not just face being brought before criminal law, but also lose their assets. Police have also been directed to launch a detailed audit of suspects’ bank accounts and to trace their financial connections to the drug trade, in an effort to break the network.
Sukhu also said, “The arrested employees will be terminated instantly, and will face legal action. We are determined to break the back of the drug syndicate operating in the state.”
Shimla Police’s Wider Campaign Against Drug Trafficking
In a series of recent successes, Shimla Police’s Mission Clean-Bharosa initiative to combat an apparent rise in the drug trade has made significant progress. Following the first-ever exposure of large-scale drug-smuggling operations in the district involving notable gangs, including the Sandeep Shah Gang, the Ranjan Gang, the Radhe Gang and the Shahi Mahatma Gandhi Gang, the police has been on high alert. Shimla Police’ unrelenting work has not only exposed these operations, that went undetected for a long time, but also revealed the ugly face of cyber fraud in the state.
SP Sanjeev Gandhi also extended clarification that the motive behind these arrests would not only serve to provide punishment to those involved but also a message that under no circumstances, would the drug trade activities be tolerated from the part of public sector employees as well as citizens.
We want to make sure it’s the last generation that becomes exposed to the dangers of drugs.” That’s why we’re moving decisively now. “We want to root out the drug business from Shimla and all over Himachal Pradesh,” Gandhi said.
Public Support and Vigilance
Shimla Police has also appealed to people of local residents to cooperate in this endeavour by being vigilant and informing them about any drug activities. The Chief Minister shared this as well, and appealed to the public to help the authorities in the war against drug trafficking. “We need your assistance on the mission. “If you notice anything suspicious, report it immediately,” he added.
Next Steps: A State-Wide Crusade
The arrests of these 24 employees fall under a larger and much more extensive plan to counter drug smuggling in Himachal Pradesh. Shimla finds itself on the frontline in this fight, with the Chief Minister and the district police having wholly backed the efforts of the authorities who are laying crackdowns on the drug trafficking networks.
Over the following months the police at the time as they uncover more and more connections and corruption in the drug traffickers will extend their scope to those involved to ensure that everyone involved in the drug trade is arrested and quickly brought to justice. The state government has promised to not only remain committed to Mission Clean-Bharosa campaign, but also take strong action against all types of drug abuse and drug trafficking.
The message is unequivocal: drug traffickers, and even employees of the government, will pay dearly for their role. Shimla, all of Himachal Pradesh would stand against the drug menace and the future of the state would be drug-free as the poison has consumed it for far too long now.
Continuing the achievement of the journey of effectiveness and credibility of more than 10 years in the career of journalism, as a woman journalist, I am Serving as the founder, promoter and editor of DiaryTimes with the trust and support of all. My credible coverage may not have given a big shape to the numbers, but my journey presents articles that make you aware of the exact and meaningful situations of Himachal’s politics, ground issues related to the public, business, tourism and the difficult geographical conditions of the state and financial awareness. DiaryTimes, full of the experience of my precise editorial expertise, is awakening the flame of credible journalism among all of you, so that the eternal flame of meaningful change can be lit in the life of the people of the state and the atrocities being committed against the people can be brought to the fore, I am motivated for that. If even a small change comes with the power of my journalism and the whole world becomes a witness to that issues, then I will consider myself fortunate.
