Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu with school children participating in the ‘Chitta-Virodh’ awareness march on November 15, 2025 in Shimla. Photo credit: Special arrangement
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday (Nov 15, 2025) launched a public drive to eradicate ‘chitta’ (heroin) from the state, vowing that drug peddlers who destroy young lives and tear apart families will find no sanctuary in the hill state.
“Our police is ready, our government is ready and more importantly, our people are ready to defeat chitta. ‘Chitta-Free Himachal’ is not just a government initiative but a people’s movement,” he told a rally after the ‘Chitta-Virodh’ (anti-heroin) awareness walk from Ridge to Shim Chaura Maidan.
“A strong public movement has now started to end this menace. The state government is working on three fronts to fight drugs. First, by spreading awareness about the dangers of drug abuse. Second, preventing the youth from falling into the trap of addiction by cracking down on drug mafias, strengthening law enforcement agencies and empowering them to deal sternly with the chitta mafia.” not criminals, they need treatment, care and support.
The Chief Minister said that the government has adopted a policy of zero tolerance towards chitta. “No one involved in this trade will be spared, no matter how influential they may be. The government has introduced the Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances Prevention Act to send repeat offenders involved in the drug trade to prison. New laws have also been passed to treat, rehabilitate and control organized drug crimes. These include provisions for the death penalty, fines†, life imprisonment10. property of traffickers with drugs,” he said.
“The government will soon form a team of 1,000 anti-chitta volunteers to act as a link between the police and the public. The police have been instructed to identify drug users and drug mafias at the panchayat level and this work has been completed,” Sukhu said.
Many children, public representatives, officials and prominent citizens participated in the walkathon. The Chief Minister took oath at the Shimla ridge and urged people to stay away from drugs and addictive substances.
Published – 15 Nov 2025 20:15 IST
