Anti-Chitta drive: Police register 12 cases, issue 385 challans on day one of statewide campus raids in Himachal

Under the state-wide ‘Anti-Chitta Drive’ launched on Tuesday, the Himachal Pradesh Police registered 12 cases and issued 385 challans, following extensive search operations carried out across educational institutions in all 12 districts of the state.

Disclosing this, a police official said that the special campaign was conducted to reinforce the state’s resolve to create a Drug-Free Himachal and to ensure that educational campuses, hostels, and surrounding areas remain free from any form of narcotics-related activity.

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Simultaneous searches were undertaken between 7 am and 4 p m in a transparent and coordinated manner with full cooperation from institutional authorities, he added.

“Special focus areas included hostels, residential blocks, parking zones, and other locations where narcotic substances could be concealed. Police teams also checked mobile phones of students and residents staying in hostels to identify any suspicious digital links, transactions, or content connected to drug use or distribution. These checks were carried out strictly as per legal protocols and under the supervision of institutional management,” he stated.

In addition, the police inspected shops, kiosks, vendors, and local taxis operating near educational institutions to detect potential supply chains or illegal distribution networks targeting students. Immediate action was taken wherever violations were found, and profiling of suspicious persons was also undertaken, he said.

The day-long operations helped identify several new sensitive points around educational campuses. Institutions were issued preventive guidelines, and an action plan was prepared to further strengthen campus security, he said, adding that students were also sensitized about the harmful effects and consequences of drug abuse.

“In total, searches were conducted at 41 educational institutions and 598 shops, kiosks, and vendors. The irregularities detected led to the registration of 12 cases and the issuance of 385 challans,” said the official.

The Himachal Pradesh Police reaffirmed its commitment to a zero-tolerance policy against drugs and urged citizens, parents, and institutions to immediately report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station or the toll-free helpline to help protect the youth from drug abuse, he added.