IGP seeks people’s support for anti-drug drive

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 13

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Bathinda, MF Farooqui on Monday held a meeting with DAPO volunteers to ask about the problems they were facing in making a drug-free society.

The meeting was held at a private resort located on the Dabwali road. Personnel from the police department, NGOs, councillors and public who face problem in making people quit drugs were present in the meeting.

Addressing the meeting, IGP MF Farooqui said the drive could not be successful without the support and cooperation of the public. He said today youths of Punjab were taking drugs, which is cause for concern for society.

The IGP said some youths took drugs due to unemployment, others because they were fed up with their life. He said, “If we did not pull out our youths from the quagmire of drugs, the next generation would not forgive us.”

The IGP said, “I assure you that we would help youths quit this deadly habit. The police will support and be available round the clock always.”

He said if any police official supported any drug supplier, then they could tell him about this without any fear as the person’s name and address would be kept secret. If a police official was found guilty, then he would be dismissed.

MF Farooqui claimed that youths had become weak and they could not build a better future. He said every chemist did not sell drugs, but a handful of chemists who did so brought bad name to the whole fraternity, which was not right.

Ward No.19 councillor Beant Singh Randhawa said even the Health Department did not give any support towards this drive. He said a few days ago he got a youth admitted to the Civil Hospital drug deaddiction centre and when at night he went to give food to him, then the police official present there made him stop for around one hour and harassed him. The IGP asked the SP and the DSP to look into the matter immediately.