DHARAMSALA: In a significant crackdown, Kangra district police arrested a drug peddler in a raid on Monday. Pawan Kumar, son of Surender Kumar from Arla Dehra village, was apprehended with 26 grams of chitta (heroin), 241.7 grams of gold jewelry valued at approximately ₹20 lakh, 1.207 kg of silver ornaments, and cash amounting to ₹44, 580.
Additionally, police seized a weighing machine, mobile phone, and bank documents from his residence. SSP Kangra Shalini Agnihotri shared details of the arrest with PTI, underscoring the district’s commitment to tackling drug-related offenses.
SSP Agnihotri also announced the launch of a new initiative called "SP Se Bolo, " designed to improve public access to the district’s senior police officials. Under this scheme, residents from each police station area can speak directly with SP Kangra on a designated day each month via video conference. This initiative aims to help citizens from remote areas address grievances without needing to travel to the SP's office in Dharamsala. SSP Agnihotri engaged with residents of Lamba Gaon on the first day of the program.
In addition, SSP Kangra highlighted the success of "ADIVA, " an initiative introduced in 2023 to support women facing domestic violence and abuse. Through ADIVA, dedicated female help desks have been set up in each police station, offering women a confidential space to report issues directly to female officers. Police also provide six months of follow-up on each case to ensure resolution. This program has yielded promising results: domestic violence cases in the district have decreased significantly, from 913 in October 2022 and 860 in October 2023 to 409 cases by October 2024. SSP Agnihotri noted that the female officers are actively working to reduce these numbers further.
These initiatives reflect the district police’s dedication to addressing both criminal activity and community needs in Kangra.