Govt failed to check supply of ‘chitta’, say Barnala farmers

Tribune News Service

Barnala, July 7

Accusing the state government of failing to break the supply of ‘chitta’, members of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) staged a protest at Thulliwal village of Barnala district on Saturday.

The protesters also burned an effigy of the state government.

They threatened to intensify their agitation at the village level if the government failed to initiate steps to check the menace.

“Youngsters in the state are losing their lives due to ‘chitta’. A number of videos are going viral daily, but the Punjab Government is in deep slumber. Many politicians are involved in the trade of ‘chitta’ and it is leading to a delay in taking action against the smugglers,” alleged Amarjit Singh, a farmer leader.

Pirthi Singh, a member of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan), alleged that before the elections, Chief Minister Capt Amrinder Singh had taken oath to eradicate the drug menace in the state, but after a year, he was yet to fulfil his promise.

“When the Congress formed the government, residents were hopeful that it would eradicate drugs in the state. But all hopes has dashed as Congress leaders have also failed to take the required steps,” said farmer leader Bhinda Singh.

“When addicts run out of money, smugglers ask them to start supplying ‘chitta’. It leads to an increase in the number of peddlers in the state,” said Labh Singh, a villager.

The protesters said the police were not taking acation against influential persons, who were involved in the drug trade.