City in the grip of deadly drug menace

LUDHIANA: When the state is burning over the drug menace after several deaths due to drug overdose in the state, as many as five drug overdose deaths have been reported in the city in the past six months. Importantly, these deaths exclude cases in which the dose has been given by another person. Moreover, according to police officials, the figures must be higher, but people do not report to the police due to social stigma.
According to information, in a majority of the cases, heroin — popularly known in the state as ‘chitta’ — was consumed. In the past few days, some videos have gone viral on social media, in which the wail of a mother on the body of his son, and a child waking his father who has died after injecting heroin have shaken everyone. People are venting their anger against the state government, and the police for failing to curb the drug menace. As a result, people have started a movement on social media for observing a black week against drugs in Punjab, in which villages and local residents are being encouraged to form teams and act against drug peddlers in their respective areas. Besides, people are being encouraged to wear a black ribbon to support the movement.

As per data provided by the Ludhiana police, no drug overdose deaths were reported in the commissionerate in 2016-2017. However in 2018, starting from January to June, five deaths have been reported due to drug overdose. Deputy commissioner of police, Ashwani Kapoor said: “The situation is alarming, and the public should also come ahead to help the police nab drug peddlers. The police have also arrested several drug peddlers, and have also started awareness seminars against drugs.”

However, experts in the police department feel the numbers are far less than the reality. A senior official of Special Task Force (STF) shared: “There are many more deaths of drug overdose in the city, but people do not reveal them due to social stigma. They also hide it to keep the police away from the matter.”

Padma Bhushan awardee and renowned agriculture economist Sardara Singh Johl (89), has also joined the movement on social media. A few days ago, he and some city residents came out on the roads with placards, asking city residents to observe July 1-7 as a black week against drugs with the slogan ‘Maro ya virod karo’. On social media, Johl has been urging people to step out of the comfort zone and start the movement to wake up the state government from its slumber.

Johl said: “The figure of five deaths would be way less than the actual deaths. The drug menace can be curbed if smugglers do not get the support of politicians and the police. To build pressure on the government and police, we are observing a ‘black week’ against drugs in Punjab. The motive behind it is to wake up the consciousness of people who feel they cannot do anything against drugs. The residents of villages and ‘mohallas’ are always aware of people who are drug addicts and drug peddlers. There should be independent committees for 10-15 people, completely non-political, who can help police nab the peddlers.”

COPS FORMING VILLAGE TEAMS

The Ludhiana police have already started approaching villagers and are forming committees to fight against drugs. Residents of Chaunta village — infamous for drug peddling — have come up to form a team for awareness and help police nab peddlers. Commissioner of police Sukhchain Singh Gill said: “The police have been approaching villagers for awareness against drugs. Recently, the police of different police stations have conducted seminars in villages in which people are motivated to stand against drugs, and help police by providing information about drug peddlers.”

RECENT CASES

June 4: Body of Simranjeet Singh (24) — son of a Punjab Police head constable deployed in Ludhiana — was found in the fields of Hargobind Nagar. The police have also recovered a syringe from near the body, and the post-mortem report confirmed it to be a case of drug overdose.

March 6: Navjot Singh (28), a factory owner from Sector 32, died after a drug overdose. His body was found in a Renault Duster car abandoned near Jhande village on 25 February. The police arrested his friend Gurpreet Singh for causing death by negligence. According to police, the duo injected drugs inside the car. However, Navjot died because of overdose, and a scared Gurpreet escaped from there.

January 4: 35-year-old Saurav Aggarwal of Anand Nagar, Haibowal, was found dead inside a vacant plot of Nasib Enclave. The police recovered strips of sedative pills and syringes from near his body.