· Nurpur Police freezes assets worth Rs. 74.12 lakh
On the directions of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the Himachal Pradesh Police Department has intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking, with particular emphasis on dismantling the financial networks that sustain the illicit drug trade.
A spokesperson for Police District Nurpur informed here today that, as part of this sustained campaign, the freezing of assets worth Rs. 74.12 lakh under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been confirmed by the Competent Authority, New Delhi. This action represents a significant step towards depriving drug traffickers of the proceeds of their illegal activities and weakening the financial foundations of the narcotics trade.
The spokesperson said that, following the arrest of an accused in a case involving a commercial quantity of narcotic substances, Nurpur Police conducted a detailed financial investigation into assets associated with him, examining their acquisition and the sources of funds used to purchase them. Based on the findings of the investigation, proceedings were initiated under the relevant provisions of the NDPS Act to freeze the identified assets.
The spokesperson further informed that, following the financial investigation, Police Station Jawali issued a freezing order on 18th September, 2026 under Section 68F(1) of the NDPS Act and forwarded it to the Competent Authority, New Delhi, for confirmation. Subsequently, on 15th October, 2026, the Competent Authority and Administrator, SAFEM(FOP)A and NDPS Act, New Delhi, passed an order under Section 68F(2) of the NDPS Act, confirming the freezing of the identified assets.
The assets comprise a two-storey residential building-cum-shopping complex containing seven shops, situated at Village Labh, Post Office Makrahan, Tehsil Jawali, District Kangra, with an assessed value of Rs. approximately Rs. 68.99 lakh and a tractor bearing registration number HP38F6433, purchased in 2019 for approximately Rs. 5.13 lakh.
During the proceedings before the Competent Authority, adequate documentary evidence, including relevant income-tax returns, bank statements and supporting records establishing the source of funds used to purchase the tractor in 2019, was not furnished. The income-tax returns submitted for the financial years 2023–24 to 2026–27 were not considered sufficient to establish the source of funds for the purchase made in 2019. Consequently, the freezing of the tractor was also confirmed. The combined assessed and purchase value of the two assets amounts to approximately Rs. 74.13 lakh.
The spokesperson further stated that Police District Nurpur is pursuing a comprehensive strategy against drug trafficking that extends beyond the seizure of narcotic substances and the arrest of accused persons to include financial investigations and action against assets linked to the illicit trade. Under this sustained campaign, assets worth approximately Rs. 30.70 crore have so far been seized following confirmation by the Competent Authority. This cumulative achievement reflects the state police’s continued commitment to identifying assets associated with drug trafficking and taking appropriate legal action to prevent offenders from benefiting from the proceeds of their illegal activities.
The spokesperson said that targeting the financial resources of drug traffickers is an essential component of the campaign against narcotic drugs, as it helps disrupt the economic networks that sustain the illicit trade.
The spokesperson also appealed to the general public to share any information relating to drug trafficking, the illegal sale or distribution of narcotic substances, or assets suspected to have been acquired through the proceeds of such activities. He said that public cooperation is vital to dismantling drug trafficking networks and achieving the shared objective of a drug-free society.
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