Addict’s death worries people

Death of addict worries resident

The death of an addict a few days ago in Goindwal Sahib has left the residents worried as the cases of drug abuse are being reported continuously. They say that the Congress, before assuming power in the state, had promised to wipe out drug peddling, but nothing of such sort has happened.

The Khadur Sahib constituency, under which Goindwal Sahib falls, is being representing by Congress' Ramanjit Singh Sikki. After the Congress government was formed in the state, Sikki had warned drug peddlers to leave his constituency or face dire constituencies, recall people.

Sukhjinder Singh Kala of Fatehbad died a few days ago after he got himself injected with drugs. The Goindwal Sahib police had registered a report under Section 174 of the CrPC, terming it a natural death, but the protest by the Revolutionary Marxist Party of India (RMPI) and family members at the District Administration Complex had forced police to slap Section 304 of the IPC on Jeon Singh, a chemist, in Goindwal Sahib. Jeon Singh has often been accused of selling drug injections to drug addicts.

The RMPI says that the area has been a hotbed for drug peddlers and addicts as people from far off places come here to buy drugs.

The party has often claimed that the Mand area (alongside Beas river) has become a hotbed for distillation of illicit liquor. A few days ago, the police found several distilleries besides recovering lahan in huge quantity. According to the RMPI, such activities go on under the patronage of political leaders.

Area residents accuse MLA Sikki of being seen rarely here.

Parking woes

Residents are being troubled by parking woes in the district. They say that officials of the administration haven't called any meeting with people and traders to know their issues in the past one year. According to them, parking space is not available in markets and other places. Due to this, people park their vehicles on roads, streets, in front of shops and private properties.

The town has not even a single parking place. Haphazard parking results in traffic jams.

Tara Singh Khehra, Dalwinder Singh Pannu and others said the administration hadn't called even a single meeting of the residents to known their problems. Public toilets have been neglected, they say.