Karan Nanda Calls for Death Penalty for Drug Smugglers if Fatalities Occur

Shimla, April 01 : BJP state in-charge Karan Nanda met Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla at Raj Bhavan to extend birthday greetings. During the meeting, they held extensive discussions on social work, afforestation, and anti-drug awareness campaigns across Himachal Pradesh.

Nanda emphasized that drug abuse has become a widespread disease affecting the youth and society, and eliminating it must be a collective resolution. He stated that drug traffickers will now face the death penalty under the Himachal Pradesh Organized Crime Prevention and Control Bill, 2025, which was recently passed in the state assembly.

He suggested sending the bill to the Select Committee to strengthen its provisions further. The legislation already includes illegal mining and other crimes. According to the bill, if drug trafficking, illicit liquor sale, or other organized crimes result in a death, the accused may face life imprisonment or even the death penalty, along with fines up to ₹10 lakh. Properties acquired through drug money will also be seized.

The bill also imposes a minimum one-year imprisonment for those abetting, attempting, conspiring, or knowingly assisting in organized crime. Besides drugs, offenses such as illegal mining, deforestation, wildlife trafficking, hazardous waste dumping, human organ trafficking, fake medical billing, and match-fixing will also be classified as organized crimes.

Nanda reiterated that while the government and opposition continue their roles, fighting against drugs should be a collective responsibility. He urged citizens to report any drug-related activities to the administration in written form to ensure swift action.