Baddi (Himachal Pradesh), Dec 5 (IANS): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Wednesday blamed neighbouring states for drug trafficking in the state. He said most of the drug-related cases registered in Himachal Pardesh were from neighbouring states.

"Since Himachal Pradesh shares its border with five states, drug peddlers are quite active in our border districts. Most cases registered against drug peddlers were from neighbouring states," he said at a state-level rally in this industrial town in Solan district.

He said it was on the initiative of the state government that a meeting of Chief Ministers of neighbouring states was held recently in Chandigarh to chalk out a joint strategy against drug abuse.

He added that the initiative proved to be a success as several drug peddlers were arrested due to sharing of information.

The Chief Minister said a special campaign would be launched across the state to sensitise people, particularly the youth, against the ill-effects of drug abuse.

Prevention programmes involving families, schools and the local community are important in this regard. He urged children to come forward to discourage their elders from drinking alcohol just for the sake of entertainment and relaxation.

Thakur said the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1985 was enacted with stringent provisions to curb this menace.

The Chief Minister stated that the state government has also decided to bring a law to make drug peddling a non-bailable offence.