8K drug peddlers booked since March 1: Minister

Facing heat over the death of 28 persons in the Amritsar hooch tragedy, AAP leaders and ministers carried out rallies “Yudh Nashyian Virudh” on Friday.

Improvement Trust Chairman Karamjit Singh Rintu said under the anti-drug campaign “Yudh Nashyian Virudh”, a programme had been held in ward numbers 10, 11 and 12 of the Amritsar (North) Assembly segment to create awareness against drug abuse. Highlighting the role of community participation, he said the residents took anti-drug oath followed by an awareness march.

In Ajnala, Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal launched the drug eradication march from the birthplace of Shaheed Baba Jiwan Singh from Gaggomahal village.

Dhaliwal said the war against drugs would create terror among drug smugglers with the cooperation of the people. He said the Punjab Police had registered more than 8,000 cases against drug smugglers since March 1 and several properties of smugglers had been being demolished.

He urged self defence committees, gram panchayats, numberdars and councillors to come forward to provide active cooperation to make the Ajnala segment drug free.

Amritsar (South) MLA Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar said the government had zero tolerance policy towards drug peddlers and smugglers. He said peddlers should either leave Punjab or else they would be put behind the bars.