In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, the Shimla police have arrested three alleged drug peddlers, including a native of Uttar Pradesh, and seized 242 grams of chitta (heroin) from Shoghi, around 13 km from the state capital.

The accused have been identified as Suraj Chauhan, a native of Deoria district in Uttar Pradesh currently residing in Kumarsain, Inder Dev alias Danu of Sunni and Moti Sharma of New Shimla.

Addressing a press conference, Additional Superintendent of Police (City) Meher Panwar said a Special Cell team of the district police received a tip-off on Monday that a group carrying a large quantity of chitta was travelling in a vehicle near Shoghi. Acting swiftly, the police intercepted the vehicle and recovered 242 grams of heroin during a search. The three occupants were arrested on the spot and the contraband seized. A case under Sections 21 and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, has been registered at the West Police Station.

The ASP said preliminary investigations revealed that Inder Dev, the prime accused, is a habitual offender and a history-sheeter. More than 53 criminal cases have been registered against him, including nine under the NDPS Act, besides cases under the Arms Act, the Excise Act and theft.

She said he had been detained for three months under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and was released from jail on June 21. Investigations indicate that he was an active member of a drug trafficking network supplying chitta to hundreds of youths in Sunni, Rampur, Kumarsain and other parts of Shimla.