Fourth drug overdose death in Sirsa highlights worsening crisis

The drug addiction crisis in Sirsa claimed its fourth victim in two months as 24-year-old Jassa Singh of Rori village succumbed to a suspected overdose on New Year’s Day. His body was discovered in a bush behind a bus stand in the Dabwali area, with a ‘chitta’ injection recovered nearby. Jassa, married for just a year and the father of a newborn son, had been struggling with substance abuse for a long time, according to his father, Tara Singh.

This marks the latest in a string of drug-related deaths in Sirsa, where three other young men died of overdoses in November and December. Despite these alarming fatalities, there has been little progress in curbing the thriving drug trade in the region.

Sirsa MP Kumari Selja condemned the government’s failure to tackle the issue, calling drug addiction a "curse" for Haryana’s youth. "Bureaucratic delays and false promises cannot stop the rampant drug trade or prevent further deaths," Selja said. She pointed out that while the types of drugs have evolved from opium and marijuana to heroin, cocaine and chitta, the authorities’ response has remained inadequate.

Selja alleged that drug traffickers operate with political protection, making it difficult for law enforcement agencies to take action. She noted that districts like Sirsa, Fatehabad and Hisar are particularly affected by the open sale of drugs. "The increase in drug use is directly linked to rising crime rates, domestic violence and health issues like HIV and Hepatitis C," she added.

Calling for a stricter crackdown on traffickers regardless of their political connections, Selja urged the police to collaborate with the public to eliminate drugs from the state. She appealed to the Chief Minister to take immediate and decisive action to address the growing crisis.

The Dabwali subdivision, designated as the 24th police district in September 2023 to combat narcotics supply, has shown little improvement. Overdose deaths continue unabated and the illegal drug trade remains active, exacerbating the plight of the region’s youth.