Third drug overdose death in Amritsar in three days

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 24

A youth was found dead near the Railway Lines in the Verka area on Sunday. He reportedly died of drug overdose as residents found a syringe and small vial near his body.

The deceased was identified as Harbhej Singh (30), a resident of Himmat Nagar area. The incident came to light when passersby saw him lying near the railway lines. They informed the Verka police which reached the spot and later informed the deceased’s family. His scooter was also parked near his body.

Harbhej’s father Sarwan Singh told the police that his son was habitual to drugs and worked as a security guard at a marriage resort near Vallah.

He did not return home on Saturday night and, in morning, the police informed about his death.

On Friday, two youths were found dead due to drug overdose at a house in Chheharta area. One of the deceased was son of AAP leader Moti Lal Pasi, who along with his wife had gone to Chandigarh for his wife’s treatment.

On Saturday, a video went viral on social media in which two youths were seen lying in a grain market under the influence of drugs. Hours after this, Amritsar rural SSP Parampal Singh asked his officials to identify them and get them admitted in a hospital.

Harpal Singh, SP (D), said they were admitted to the de-addiction centre while the police had arrested the drug peddler from whom they had procured the drugs. He was identified as Gurlal Singh, alias Lalli, of Chaugawan village. The police also recovered 300 gm of intoxicant powder from his possession.

A case under the NDPS Act was being registered against him. Earlier too, a similar case was registered against him and he was currently out on bail.

Malik questions govt steps to curb menace

Sangrur: Raising questions over the anti-drug initiatives of the Congress government, state BJP chief Shwait Malik on Sunday claimed that five youths had died in Amritsar due to overdose of drugs in one week, but the government “is busy protecting its MLAs and leaders involved in illegal mining”. “Before elections, Capt Amrinder Singh had taken a pledge to end drugs, but these are being openly sold in the state,” alleged Malik, while presiding over a function here. “If CM wants to have an army of OSDs, then what is the need of having ministers. It shows that the CM does not trust his own ministers,” he said. He also alleged that the state would soon start charging farmers for electricity. tns