Bilaspur: Two Peddlers Arrested with 533.6g Charas; Network Spanned Mandi, Hamirpur & Bilaspur

Bilaspur, June 14: In a major breakthrough in the ongoing crackdown against narcotics in Himachal Pradesh, the Bilaspur police’s Special Detection Team seized 533.6 grams of charas early Saturday morning. The operation, based on a tip-off, was conducted near Thapna Tunnel No. 2, where the police had set up a checkpoint and apprehended two drug peddlers red-handed.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Atul Sharma (26), a resident of Dharampur in Mandi district, and Prithi Chand (35), of Jogindernagar, also in Mandi. The duo was transporting the contraband from Bharari in Mandi towards Bilaspur when their Tata Nexon (CH 01CK 5036) was intercepted. Upon inspection, the police discovered the charas hidden beneath the co-passenger seat.

According to police, Prithi Chand is a known and active trafficker with a well-established network operating across Mandi, Hamirpur, and Bilaspur districts. Intelligence units in Mandi and Hamirpur had been tracking him for a considerable time, but it was the swift and alert action of the Bilaspur team that finally led to his capture.

A case has been registered under the NDPS Act at Swarghat Police Station, and authorities are now working to identify and apprehend other members of the network. DSP Madan Dhiman confirmed the operation and described it as a decisive blow to the region’s drug trafficking activities.

“Our top priority is to make Himachal drug-free, and this action reflects our continued commitment to that goal,” he said. The operation is being hailed as a significant step toward protecting the youth from falling into the trap of substance abuse.