Shimla, June 29: The Himachal Pradesh Police organized the 12th edition of its Half Marathon in Shimla today to raise awareness against drug abuse. Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu felicitated the winners of the event, which saw enthusiastic participation from men, women, and senior citizens above the age of 75.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister expressed serious concern over the involvement of government employees in drug-related activities. He revealed that strict action has already been taken against 80 government personnel involved in such cases. Instances of police officials’ involvement in drug trafficking have also come to light, prompting the state government to consider amendments to the Police Manual to enhance accountability within the force.
He announced that the government is preparing to launch a large-scale anti-drug campaign in the near future. Mapping is being carried out at the panchayat level to identify vulnerable areas. A dedicated task force is also being set up to combat drug trafficking, with the recruitment process already underway. Additionally, 500 new positions will be filled in the police department to strengthen enforcement efforts.
Reiterating the government’s zero-tolerance policy on drugs, the Chief Minister said that protecting youth from the scourge of addiction is a shared responsibility. He emphasized a dual-strategy approach: strict legal action against traffickers and a compassionate outlook towards addicts, with a focus on rehabilitation.
He highlighted that the current government has implemented the PIT-NDPS Act (Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances), which the previous BJP government failed to enforce during its five-year tenure. Under this act, 40 detention orders have been approved, including 36 issued this year alone. Assets of seven drug traffickers have been seized, with further action actively underway.
The Chief Minister also informed that the state has passed the Himachal Pradesh Anti-Drugs Act, which helps distinguish between offenders and victims. He said the government is working on rehabilitating addicts to help them reintegrate into society. He urged parents to maintain open communication with their children and educate them about the harmful effects of drugs. He also called upon all sections of society to actively participate in anti-drug campaigns to safeguard the future of the youth.
Winners Felicitated
On the occasion, CM Sukhu awarded ₹51,000 each to:
Ravidas, winner of the Half Marathon (21.5 km) in the men’s category
Ruby Kashyap, winner in the women’s category
Other winners honored included:
Mini Marathon (10 km): Ravi Chaudhary (men), Sunita (women)
Dream Run (3 km):
Age 16–30: Mohammad Sohail (men), Vipasha Verma (women)
Age 31–45: Nagendra Pal (men), Pratibha (women)
Age 46–60: Kuldeep (men), [name not specified] (women)
Age 10–15: Harsh Kumar (boys), Ritika Verma (girls)
The Chief Minister also launched a special awareness song titled ‘Harmony of Pine’ focusing on the dangers of drug abuse.
The event was attended by MLA Harish Janartha, Mayor Surender Chauhan, Principal Media Advisor to the CM Naresh Chauhan, Additional Chief Secretary K.K. Pant, Director General of Police Ashok Tiwari, senior police officers, and other dignitaries.
