Youth Assaults Mother for Drug Money in Himachal Pradesh
A Disturbing Incident of Addiction-Driven Violence
Shimla: A heartbreaking incident has emerged from Himachal Pradesh, where a young man, struggling with an addiction to synthetic drugs known as chitta, allegedly assaulted his mother and coerced her into breaking a fixed deposit to finance his drug use.
The shocking details were revealed by Theog SDM Shashank Gupta during a legal awareness camp held in Matiyana, highlighting the alarming reach of drug abuse into everyday family life.
This camp was organized in collaboration with the National Legal Services Authority and the State Legal Services Authority. Officials noted that this incident exemplifies a troubling trend of violence stemming from addiction within households.
Mother's Plea for Help
Describing the mother's plight, the SDM recounted how she came to his office in distress, explaining that her son had physically assaulted her and forced her to withdraw money from a fixed deposit.
She revealed that the funds were used to purchase chitta, which her son subsequently consumed.
The mother expressed her long-standing suffering due to her son's addiction, stating, “He was meant to be my support in old age.” She pleaded for his rehabilitation, hoping he could be admitted to a reputable de-addiction center.
Authorities Take Action
In response, Gupta immediately contacted local police, who provided counseling to the young man and were instructed to monitor him closely. He cautioned that addiction often starts with substances like bidi, cigarettes, or alcohol before escalating to more dangerous synthetic drugs like chitta.
DSPs present at the camp echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for those struggling with addiction to seek medical assistance, framing addiction as both a health issue and a law enforcement concern.
Rising Cases of Chitta Addiction
Officials reported a yearly increase in cases involving synthetic drugs in Himachal Pradesh. As part of the state government's 'Chitta Mukt Himachal' initiative, an anti-drug awareness campaign is currently in progress, featuring walkathons across the state. Additionally, the government has introduced incentives for individuals who provide information about drug traffickers.
DSP Siddharth Sharma noted that approximately 1.7 kg of chitta has been confiscated in the Theog area over the last three years, with a single dose priced between Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000. He remarked, “Every third youth has, at some point, consumed drugs,” adding that he has spoken with nearly 2,000 young addicts, with over 90% indicating that their first exposure to drugs came from friends or peer groups, marking the beginning of their addiction.