Fear among addicts as campaign of police against drugs in full swing

AMRITSAR: The police are taking up a vigorous campaign against drug abuse, holding public meetings and putting drug peddlers behind the bars, but there is a sense of fear among people that drug addicts may be victimised while big fishes will get away due to political shelter.

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 20

The police are taking up a vigorous campaign against drug abuse, holding public meetings and putting drug peddlers behind the bars, but there is a sense of fear among people that drug addicts may be victimised while big fishes will get away due to political shelter.

The district administration as well as the police officials have assured that the campaign would target only drug traffickers and addicts would be sent to de-addiction centres for treatment.

On July 10, a youth allegedly attempted suicide by consuming some poisonous substance after a police team went to his shop in Rayya to arrest him for drug peddling. The cops ran away after his condition deteriorated. Identified as Supinder Singh of Wadala village in Rayya, he was rushed to a hospital by his family members. The family alleged that they were being harassed by the cops while their son had already got treatment to shun drugs.

In a similar incident, a woman and her son attempted suicide following “harassment” by the local police a couple of days ago. Gurmeet Kaur of Raipur Kalan village succumbed but her son Yograj Singh survived. Family members had said that Yograj victim became addict three years ago but he shunned it. Now, he was working in a factory. During the recent drive, the police started harassing them. They were called at police station and allegedly insulted by the cops which prompted them to take the extreme step, the family alleged.

Laxmi Kanta Chawla, former Punjab minister and veteran BJP leader, said, “Many people arrested in the past are drug addicts. The police must act against big traders of drugs rather than acting only against drug addicts.”

Farmers’ leader Rattan Singh Randhawa said that steps taken by the police should be appreciated, but addicts should be harassed.

Amritsar (Rural) SSP Parampal Singh said the police had acted against drug traffickers who used to supply drugs to addicts, thereby leading to their deaths. “The cops found involved in corrupt practices or framing innocent will be dealt with strictly. We are getting regular information regarding drug peddlers. We take action only after verifying the facts. Hundreds of youth were sent to de-addiction centre, he said.

DCP Amrik Singh Powar said, “We are not resorting to overdrive. We are acting only against drug peddlers after verifying the facts. We are also focusing on spreading awareness against drug abuse.”