Himachal Assembly in Turmoil Over Police Involvement in Multi-Crore LSD Racket
The arrest of four police personnel from the anti-drug special task force (STF) in Kullu, linked to a massive inter-state Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) drug racket, sparked a fierce uproar in the Himachal Pradesh legislative assembly on Friday, the sixth day of the budget session. This incident has reignited deep concerns about the escalating drug menace in the hill state, with opposition leaders lambasting the government for alleged failures in law enforcement.
Opposition Slams Government Over Drug Crisis
Raising the issue during zero hour, leader of opposition Jai Ram Thakur declared that Himachal Pradesh is rapidly succumbing to drug abuse, particularly synthetic substances. He described the situation as shameful, emphasizing that police officers tasked with combating drug trafficking were allegedly facilitating it. Thakur detailed that the arrested STF personnel had seized LSD valued at Rs 3 crore but allowed the traffickers to escape without consequences.
Thakur stressed the urgent need for senior police officials to conduct thorough background checks before assigning personnel to sensitive roles. He further accused the state government of misusing the police force for political purposes, including surveillance of opposition leaders. The former chief minister also claimed that law enforcement agencies are disproportionately targeting drug users rather than major suppliers, undermining efforts to curb the trade.
BJP Demands Integrity in Anti-Drug Efforts
BJP MLA Satpal Singh Satti called for the deployment of officials with proven integrity in the anti-drug STF, warning that without stringent government action, the fight against drugs will remain ineffective. He drew comparisons to strong leadership in other states, citing examples like Punjab under then chief minister Beant Singh and DGP K P S Gill in curbing militancy, and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath in tackling crime.
Chief Minister's Response and Government Initiatives
In response, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu assured the assembly that his government is taking the issue seriously. He revealed that 11 police personnel and eight other government employees have been dismissed for alleged involvement in drug-related activities. Sukhu clarified that the Shimla police were responsible for arresting the four accused STF personnel and argued that not all police personnel should be painted with the same brush.
Sukhu countered opposition claims by stating that the drug problem did not emerge solely in the last three years but persisted during the previous BJP government, which he alleged failed to act. His remarks led to sloganeering by opposition MLAs, with some even walking out of the House. The chief minister concluded by highlighting government initiatives, such as village-level mapping and awareness campaigns to combat drug abuse, and invited opposition leaders to participate in walkathons.
New Cess on Petrol and Diesel for Orphan and Widow Welfare
In a separate development, the cash-strapped Himachal Pradesh government announced plans to levy an "Orphan and Widow Cess" on petrol and high-speed diesel, not exceeding Rs 5 per litre at the point of first sale in the state. Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu introduced "The Himachal Pradesh Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2026" in the assembly on Friday.
The cess, once passed by the House and assented to by the governor, will be collected from dealers and utilized for the welfare of orphans and widows from economically weaker sections in the state. This move aims to address social welfare needs amid financial constraints.
Power Production Updates in Himachal Pradesh
Responding to a query by BJP MLA Jeet Ram Katwal, chief minister Sukhu provided details on power production in the state. From the financial year 2023-24 to 2025-26, up to January 31, 2026, Himachal Pradesh generated 1.18 lakh million units of electricity from hydropower projects and 467.57 million units from solar projects.
Sukhu informed the House that the hill state has a potential hydropower generation capacity of 22,950 megawatts (MW), with nearly 13,000 MW currently being generated. He added that solar power capacity reached 188 MW in 2024-25 and is projected to increase to 209 MW in 2025-26.
Currently, 188 hydropower projects are operational in Himachal Pradesh, while 24 are under construction. Additionally, five projects are pending approval, six are involved in legal disputes, and another six have been deemed unfeasible, reflecting ongoing challenges in energy development.
