Ajay Kumar Upadhyay
Bilaspur: In a major blow to drug trafficking networks, Bilaspur Police recovered 275.65 grams of narcotics in four separate operations carried out across the district within hours, arresting six accused and exposing new methods adopted by smugglers to evade police surveillance. The seizures were made as part of the district’s intensified anti-drug campaign under strict police monitoring and surprise checkpoints.
The most sensational recovery came from Barmana police station, where officers detected 9.70 grams of drugs concealed inside the fuel tank cap of a car—a method that revealed the evolving tactics of drug smugglers. The car (HP 12E-5492), stopped near Alsu Bridge during late-night patrolling, was driven by Pawan Kumar (45), accompanied by Dharmendra Kumar (29) and Pawan Kumar (29), all residents of Sachan village, Tehsil Padhar, Mandi. The trio was arrested on the spot, and an NDPS case has been registered.
In another operation, Sadar police recovered 38.72 grams of drugs during a 4:15 a.m. checkpoint at the Kiratpur–Nerchowk four-lane near Mandi Bharadi. The car (HP 24C-9140) carried Pritam (27) of Bagi-Binaula and Arun Kumar (42) of Hamirpur, both of whom were arrested after the contraband was discovered.
The third case involved the recovery of 0.68 grams of drug paraphernalia from Deepak Kumar (24) of Rupnagar, Punjab, near the Bilaspur petrol pump.
Meanwhile, in a fourth and most significant seizure, Bilaspur Sadar police recovered 226.55 grams of hashish from a suspect during patrolling near Mandi Bharadi on the Kiratpur–Nerchowk–Manali four-lane. The accused, identified as Ram Avtar Verma (39) of Ekta Vihar, RK Puram, was apprehended after behaving suspiciously while standing outside his vehicle.
Police spokesperson DSP Madan Dhiman confirmed all four recoveries, stating that the district police have intensified their anti-narcotics operations and will continue to crack down on drug trafficking with full force. He emphasized that the latest seizures point to organized networks, and investigations are underway to expose their broader links.