16 cops dismissed amid anti-drug crackdown in HP

Shimla: Amid the ongoing crackdown on drugs in Himachal Pradesh, the police department has dismissed 16 cops from service so far in 2026 for their alleged involvement in narcotics-related cases.Sharing this information with media persons on Tuesday, officiating state police chief Ashok Tiwari said the police department had adopted a zero-tolerance approach towards internal misconduct. Some of the dismissed cops were booked under the NDPS Act, while others were accused of aiding or protecting drug traffickers. Tiwari stressed that maintaining discipline within the force was paramount and warned that any official found directly or indirectly linked to drug networks would face strict action.Tiwari acknowledged the presence of a few "black sheep" in the police department, but said such elements were being identified and removed to uphold the integrity of the police force.