Toxic trend: Women in drug trade raise alarm in Nurpur’s border belt

The increasing involvement of women in drug trafficking — particularly in the form of heroin (chitta) and hashish (charas) — within the jurisdictions of Indora and Damtal police stations in Nurpur’s interstate border district has become a matter of concern. Despite sustained arrests, court convictions and imprisonment of drug peddlers, the illegal trade continues unabated, prompting authorities to ramp up enforcement efforts.

The Nurpur district police have launched a special drive targeting habitual offenders, especially those with prior involvement in drug peddling. However, residents, local Mahila Mandals and Panchayati Raj representatives have voiced alarm over the rising trend of women participating in the illicit drug trade — an issue that poses a growing challenge for law enforcement.

In a recent development, the Damtal police arrested two women — Champa, wife of Hardeep Singh and her daughter-in-law Sakshi — after recovering 17.91 gm of heroin from their residence in Chhanni village following a tip-off. A case under Sections 21 and 29 of the NDPS Act has been registered against them.

Earlier, the State Home Secretary-cum-Detention Authority in Shimla issued detention orders against Veero Devi, wife of Kans Raj from Tamota village under the Indora police station, for repeated involvement in drug trafficking. This marks the seventh instance of such an order being procured by the Nurpur police against a habitual offender.

Despite obtaining detention orders, securing convictions and initiating property confiscation against those profiting from the drug trade, the police face a stubborn resistance from the well-entrenched drug mafia. Most notably, many women involved in peddling reportedly belong to the Sansi community — a nomadic tribe originally from Punjab. The community, which settled in rural areas near Damtal and Indora several decades ago, has drawn increasing scrutiny for its alleged links to interstate drug trafficking networks.

Nurpur SP Ashok Rattan reiterated the police’s resolve to dismantle the drug syndicate operating across state lines. “Eradicating the drug mafia is our top priority. We appeal to the public to join hands with the police in this fight to protect our youth from the scourge of substance abuse,” he said.

He also emphasised the deployment and specialised training of more women constables for anti-narcotics operations. “The rise in NDPS cases, growing heroin seizures and successful detention orders are signs of the police’s ongoing progress,” he added.

Himachal Tribune