Addicts break into 5 medical stores, decamp with syringes

Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, July 29

Unidentified miscreants broke into five medical stores located in the heart of the city and decamped with syringes. The incident took place on Saturday night. Sources claim that it appeared to be the handiwork of addicts since there are restrictions on the sale of syringes.

SSP Swarandeep Singh said he had formed a special team to deal with the case. “We are working on several clues and hope to make some arrests by Monday morning. The CCTV footage is being examined,” he said.

The thefts have taken place at Arora Pharmacy, Bedi Medical Store, Rambo Drug House, Kapoor Medical Store and Ganga Medical Store.

Although the owners did not mention in the FIR that syringes were stolen, a senior police officer, requesting anonymity, claimed that the thieves mostly took away syringes. Some shopkeepers said cash was also stolen.

In one shop, the addicts first removed the CCTV cameras inside the premises before carrying out the theft. All shops are located in crowded areas of the city. A case has been registered against unidentified persons at city police station.

Romesh Mahajan, who runs the Red Cross de-addiction centre near Babbehali village, said since the sale of syringes was being monitored, the addicts who injected costly heroin must be desperate to get these.

“Addicts looting medical stores proves that the anti-drug drive is proving successful,” claimed a police officer. On the other hand, chemists are claiming that they are being harassed by the police in the name of anti-drug drive.