KULLU: At a time when hashish (charas) production is at its peak in the hidden folds of Manikaran–Parvati and Malana valleys, the Himachal Pradesh Police today cracked down hard on the valley’s notorious drug trail.
In a major breakthrough, police arrested a key kingpin from Chalal village in Manikaran valley and recovered 6 kg of high-grade charas from his possession — the biggest haul of the season in Kullu.
The accused has been booked under the NDPS Act, with police officials stressing that the state is now pursuing a zero-tolerance policy on drugs — from charas to chitta.
In another incident, police caught a man from Deogarh with 10 grams of chitta, continuing the crackdown that officers say will now intensify across the state.
The valleys of Kullu, Manikaran, Malana, Tosh, Kulka, Pulga, Kulga and parts of Shimla district have long served as a secret haven for cannabis cultivation and charas extraction.
For decades, charas from these remote gorges has quietly travelled from Himachal’s hills to destinations across India.
Malana — often touted as the oldest democracy — remains infamous worldwide for its hashish trade, and Chalal too has been on the radar of NCB and state police for years.
But this season’s big seizure marks a shift.
Under the directions of the Chief Minister, police have launched a statewide, aggressive anti-drug drive, following the anti-Chitta “Walkathon” campaign rolled out in Shimla and Dharamshala. The appeal to Himachal’s youth is loud and clear — declare an all-out war against drugs.
Yet, residents say the battle is far tougher on the ground. The drug network is deep, old, and thriving in the shadows of Himachal’s tourist hotspots.
For now, police claim momentum is finally picking up. Whether it will be enough to cleanse the valleys — or just another round of tall promises — remains the big question.
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