Students’ body protests drug abuse

Ravi Chandel

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, July 3

Members of the Punjab Students Union (PSU) staged a protest on Monday at Gobindpura and Bhucho-Khurd villages against the rampant drug abuse in the state.

The students, protesting under the banner of “Maro Ya Virodh Karo”, urged the residents to observe the first week of July as ‘Black Week’.

During the protest, students and residents raised slogans against Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and alleged that the government had failed to fulfil its promise of wiping out drugs in the state.

The protesters alleged that despite government assurance to adopt zero tolerance policy against drug smugglers and peddlers, no concrete steps had been taken in this regard.

They said the drug overdose death ratio had increased manifold in the state.

Sangeeta Rani, president, PSU, said, “We want to send a strong message to the state government by observing the first week of July as ‘Black Week’. The government must take strict action against drug peddlers to save the lives of youths.”

Simarjeet Kaur, vice-president, PSU, said, “It’s our duty to support the campaign and make the people in the region aware so as not to not get attracted or come under the influence of drug smugglers to earn money.”

They will stage another protest against the government at Singo village in Talwandi Sabo on July 6.