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Himachal women, patrolling village to curb drug menace, face FIR

A few members of the Laghat Mahila Mandal have been booked under bailable offences, including wrongful restraint, assault and intimidation. The women’s group has rejected the charges.

3 min readDec 25, 2025 01:59 PM IST

Women guarding Laghat village at night

A women’s initiative to patrol the streets against the drug menace in Laghat village in Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur district has resulted in a First Information Report (FIR) being filed against a few members for allegedly roughing up and wrongfully restraining three youths on Wednesday.

The youths were detained on suspicion of drug peddling. However, no contraband was found in their possession during an intensive frisking conducted by a police team from the nearby Barmana police station, the police said.

Meanwhile, the Laghat village Mahila Mandal has said its members only intervened after allegedly finding the three youths assaulting another villager.

Laghat village falls under the Barmana gram panchayat in Bilaspur district. It is among the 247 panchayats identified as highly affected by the chitta (heroin) menace by the government.

“Several women’s groups have been running campaigns to curb the spread of drug abuse in the district. As part of this drive, awareness activities are being carried out in Laghat, Chandpur, and adjoining panchayats. On December 22, three youths were allegedly stopped by members of a women’s group in Laghat on suspicion of drug use,” Sandeep Dhawal, Superintendent of Police (SP), Bilaspur, told The Indian Express.

“A police team from Barmana police station reached the spot, conducted a check, and prepared a non-recovery memo after no intoxicating substance was found. The memo was also signed by the members of the women’s group,” the SP added.

Later, one of the youths, Suresh Mahajan of Dhanjari village, lodged a police complaint alleging that he and his friend Vikrant were wrongfully restrained and assaulted by members of the women’s group, including three to four other women, the police said. He also alleged that a video of the incident was circulated on social media.

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After a preliminary inquiry, the police registered a case at Barmana police station under sections 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), 126(2) (wrongful restraint), 356(2) (defamation), 191(2) (rioting), 190 (unlawful assembly) and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Sources said the FIR comprises bailable offences and no arrests have been made so far.

‘Immediately inform the police’

Pinki Sharma, pradhan of Mahila Mandal, Laghat, said they were unaware of the reasons why the FIR was registered. “It was registered without recording our version during the initial inquiry. The complainant, along with his two accomplices, was assaulting a youth in our village when we intervened and called the police around 11 am on Monday. When we called the police, the complainant made us talk to his family members, pleading forgiveness. Later, we came to know that an FIR had been registered against us. We also met SP Dhawal in his office. So far, we have not received any communication from the police,” Sharma added.

Meanwhile, the Bilaspur police have appealed to the public not to take the law into their own hands, reiterating that the law applies equally to all. An appeal issued in a press statement reads, “Citizens have been urged to immediately inform the police about any suspected drug-related activities, as public cooperation is essential to effectively tackle the growing drug menace. Strict action is being taken against drug trafficking in accordance with the law.”

Saurabh Parashar

Saurabh Parashar is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, primarily responsible for the publication’s coverage of Himachal Pradesh. He is a seasoned journalist with over 17 years of experience in print media, specializing in crime, legal affairs, and investigative reporting. Professional Background Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology (Hisar) and a Law degree from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla. This legal background significantly informs his reporting on complex judicial and administrative matters. Career Path: Before joining The Indian Express in 2017, he spent 12 years with The Times of India. Core Beats: His primary focus is the socio-political landscape of the hill state, with a specific emphasis on the environment, forest conservation, drug menace (specifically "Chitta"), affairs related to tribal and archaeology and the unique challenges of governance in high-altitude regions. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His recent reporting highlights the critical intersection of policy, law, and social safety in Himachal Pradesh: 1. "Himachal’s battle against Chitta: Why the border areas are most vulnerable" (Late 2025): An investigative look at the transit routes from Punjab and the impact on local youth. 2. "Shimla ropeway clears key hurdle as 820 trees face the axe :According to the Forest Survey of India’s 2021 assessment, 47.21 percent of Shimla’s 5,131 sq km geographical area is under forest cover (Nov 17, 2025). 3. "Himachal to handover 2.7427 ha of non-forest land for Shimla Ropeway: Given the land’s non-forest nature, RTDC and the state will not require permission from MoEFCC" (Nov 18, 2025) 4. "How the centuries-old Jodidara tradition is fading in Himachal’s Trans-Giri region: Jodidara: a form of fraternal polyandry—has long been part of Hatti tribal culture in the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Uttarakhand. It is believed to have evolved to prevent division of ancestral land and maintain unity among brothers in the harsh, mountainous terrain" (Aug 18, 2025) Legal & Agricultural Affairs "Kisan Sabha hails SC’s setting aside Himachal HC order to remove orchards from forest land" (Dec 18, 2025): Covering a major Supreme Court victory for farmers, where a High Court order to remove fruit-bearing apple orchards was overturned. "Himachal Cabinet nod to new tourism policy; focus on home-stays in tribal areas" (Dec 11, 2025): Detailing the legislative push to decentralize tourism and bring economic benefits to Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur. 3. Governance & Environment "Forest rights and development: Why Himachal is seeking more leeway from Centre" (Dec 19, 2025): Reporting on the legal hurdles faced by the state in infrastructure projects due to the Forest Conservation Act. "Cloudbursts and resilience: How Himachal’s remote villages are building back better" (Nov 2025): Following up on the long-term rehabilitation efforts after monsoon-related disasters. Crime especially cyber crimes, crypto currency etc: crypto currency: "Agents in uniform, motivational speeches, lavish parties: How a Himachal crypto con went unnoticed:A serial conman, a ‘Nelson Mandela Nobel Peace Award winner', and retired policemen got together to pull off a Rs 1,740-crore fraud" (Nov 10, 2023) Signature Beats Saurabh is recognized for his tenacious reporting on the state's drug epidemic. His deep familiarity with the topography and tribal culture of Himachal allows him to report from remote locations like Spiti, Pangi, Shillai, which are often overlooked by national media. His legal expertise makes him a primary choice for covering the Himachal Pradesh High Court on issues ranging from local body elections to environmental PILs. X (Twitter): @saurabh_prashar . ... Read More

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