Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, June 26

In 97 villages of the Sangrur district, which shares 42-km-long border with Haryana and where smuggling had always been a big headache for the police, no resident had been booked in a drug case for the past five years.

After receiving resolutions from the panchayats of these villages, the Sangrur police have declared them drug-free after verifying the records for the past five years.

“Our village has not seen a single case under the NDPS Act for the past five years. With police support, our residents have been maintaining a strict vigil to prevent drug smuggling,” said Jaswinder Kaur, sarpanch, Changaliwala village.

Other villages include Sherpur Sodian, Jati Majra, Balamgarh, Ruldu Singh Wala, Burj Gohra, Deh Kalan, Rasaldar Chhana, Nanakpura, Santokh Pura, Harkishanpura, Sanjuma, Adakwas, Balad Kothi, Sakraudi, Sangatpura and Gehla Matran among others.

“We have decided to take a strict action against any resident found smuggling drugs,” said Ranjit Kaur, sarpanch, Gaga village. Sangrur SSP Vivek Sheel Soni said they had been trying to motivate maximum villagers against drugs. From January 1, till May 31, 2021, the police have registered 285 NDPS cases, arrested 413 accused and seized 860-kg poppy husk, 15-kg opium, 2.72-kg heroin, 184-kg ganja and 1,91,224 habit-forming tablets.