Conviction Rates Decline

Shimla Jan 13: Himachal Pradesh is witnessing a growing drug trade network with a surge in arrests under the NDPS Act in 2024. A total of 2,515 individuals were apprehended, including 473 men and 17 women from Shimla, marking the district with the highest arrests. Two foreign nationals were also detained in Solan and Sirmaur. Despite the efforts, 72.71% of accused were acquitted due to lack of evidence, highlighting challenges in ensuring convictions.

Key concerns include 9,418 pending NDPS cases, while 42 special courts handle these trials. In 2024, only 293 cases saw convictions out of 1,070 disposed cases. Property worth ₹21.5 crore linked to illegal trade was seized. The absence of scientific officers in forensic labs hampers investigations.