Himachal Pradesh police arrested 34 people during an overnight operation in the Manikaran valley of Kullu district on 10–11 October 2023.[1] Officers seized 5.71 kg of cannabis, 110.57 kg of hemp seeds and 91,000 rupees in cash.[2] Six cases were registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.[1] In the Gahar area, police seized about 2.20 kg of cannabis and the 91,000 rupees from Ravi Bhadur of Nepal and 19 others, and arrested all of them.[1] At Rajag Thach, they seized 3.51 kg of cannabis and 110.57 kg of hemp seeds from Shiva of Nepal and 13 others, and arrested all 14.[1]
Police found 2.83 lakh (283,000) cannabis plants growing illegally on 235 bighas of forest land, about 19 hectares.[1] The Forest Department was asked to destroy the crop.[2] A case was registered against unidentified people for more than 2 lakh plants on 150 bighas at Rajag Thach, near Grahan village.[1] Another 3,000 plants stood on one bigha belonging to Charanjeet of Grahan village.[1] About 50,000 plants were grown on 50 bighas of forest land at Gahar village.[1] A further 33,000 plants were found on 35 bighas near Brahmganga forest.[1]
Sanjay Kundu, the state director general of police, said 1,000 plants can yield 1 kg of charas, a hashish made from cannabis resin, so the crop could have produced 283 kg of high-quality charas.[2] He said illegal cultivation on forest and private land in Kullu, especially the Manikaran valley, had continued despite earlier destruction drives and needed different planning.[2] Central Range Deputy Inspector General Madhusudan led the operation, and three teams trekked six to seven hours to reach the sites.[1] Police said they would keep zero tolerance towards drugs and ensure the Manikaran valley did not become a “narco-tourism destination”.[1]