Shimla: Police arrested one person for possessing over 1 Kg of contraband charas in the city here today.
“Suresh Thakur, a resident belonging to Chopal area in Shimla district, at 7 a.m. was found in possession with 1 Kg and 23 grams of Charas,Des Raj Guleria, assistant sub inspector New Shimla police station let Hill Post know.
After making out a case under the stringent Narcotic Drugs and Psychotic Substances Act, Thakur was arrested and produced before a judicial magistrate.
He has been remanded to 3 day police custody, said the police officer.
It was on a tip off that the police acted upon, he added.
Elsewhere at Jogindernagar police station in Mandi district ASI Satpal, during a surprise check (nakka) of vehicle number HP 29B-0246 recovered 1.3 Kgs of Charas from the possession of Prem Lal and Murari Lal, both are residents Jhatingari tehsil in Mandi district.
With winter setting in the hills, much of the illegally harvested marijuana is usually marketed at this time of the year.
Last week police at Aut, the border police post to Kullu-Manali valley, police arrested a couple with around 4 Kgs of Charas.
The duo, Puran Chand and Sita Devi both residents of Kullu district were travelling in a high end Volvo Manali-Delhi bus when police surprise checked the vehicle and found 3.925 Kgs of the contraband in possession with them.
Whereas one kilogram of Charas is valued at about Rs 100, 000 in Indian market, its value increases four to five fold in the international market.
Premium brands like Malana Cream, produced in the highlands of Parvati valley in Kullu, fetches much higher prices and is mostly smuggled for the international market where it is rated as the marijuana in the world.
Despite the tough law, which attracts up to 10 years in jail, many take to harvesting charas (Marijuana) across the higher hills of Himachal and a driven to it in a the absence of sustainable livelihoods or a good cash crop and for the attractive price that the contraband commands in the illegal market.
Photo: Wikipedia
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads the team of media professionals at Hill Post.
In a career spanning over two decades through all formats of journalism in Electronic, Print and Online Media, he brings with him enough experience to steer this platform. He lives in Shimla.
