In a significant crackdown on the heroin (chitta) trade, Shimla police have arrested five drug peddlers from different areas within the Theog Subdivision. The accused—Kartik Verma (25) from Theog, Rahul Sharma (25) from Thoond village (Junga), Sandeep (32) from Shapra village (Chopal), Ankush Tanta (35) from Mehana village (Jubbal), and Papil Bhushan (30) from Nihari village (Kotkhai)—were apprehended following a detailed investigation.
The arrests were made in connection with a previous case, where a drug peddler was caught near Theog on January 9 with 76 grams of heroin. Investigators traced the individuals involved by tracking down backward linkages from this initial arrest.
According to Theog DSP Siddharth Sharma, the arrested suspects have been charged under Sections 21, 27A, and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The investigation has revealed that these individuals were linked to Harsh Saini, a drug peddler from Roorkee, Uttarakhand, who was earlier apprehended with a significant quantity of heroin.
Additionally, the police have made further arrests, including Harsh Verma from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, and Sunny from Abohar, Fazilika district, Punjab. Both are alleged associates of Harsh Saini. DSP Sharma confirmed that the operation is ongoing, with more arrests expected as authorities continue to dismantle the heroin trafficking network.
