Balwant Garg
Tribune News Service
Kotkapura, July 15
Three days after a crackdown on over 50 houses in Ambedkar Nagar here as part of its campaign against small peddlers to break the drug supply chain, over 200 police personnel on Monday searched around 100 houses in Jeewan Nagar, Prem Nagar, Indira Colony and Jaito Road area. A large number of residents in these localities belong to a weaker section of society.
The police rounded up over 12 persons who are suspected to be a part of the drug supply chain. Besides being addicts, many of them work as catalysts for the suppliers in delivering drugs to the potential buyers, said the police.
Besides rounding up the suspects, the police interacted with residents and emboldened them to disclose the number of drugs suppliers in their areas.
“Join hands with us. Until the police get information about the drugs supplier from people, it is difficult to restrain them and keep a tab on their modus-operandi,” said SSP Raj Bachan Singh Sandhu.
These searches are aimed at instilling confidence among the people and creating a deterrent effect for the small-time drug suppliers, said the SSP. “To make residents aware of the perils of drug abuse, we are tying up with people and NGOs to identify the areas where the drugs problem is acute,” the SSP added.
The police also plan to involve some persons, who have overcome the ill-effects of drugs to make their efforts more effective. Their experience can motivate youths towards a healthy and drug-free life.