Narangwal Kalan residents support village sarpanch after threat from drug traders

Cutting across party lines, residents of Narangwal Kalan in Ludhiana district announced their support for the village sarpanch who is also the chairman of the Nasha Virodhi Committee there.

An announcement was made during the concluding session of a meeting, attended by a large number of men and women. The meeting was called following threats to office-bearers of the committee by some villagers who were allegedly involved in drug trafficking and other anti-social activities.

Though no case was registered against any of the miscreants named by the villagers, the Jodhan police claimed to have initiated preventive action against them (persons threatening the sarpanch and his associates).

Claiming that surveillance in the village had been increased following a complaint by the civic body and villagers, SHO Davinder Singh said preventive action had been initiated against some persons who were accused of threatening the office-bearers of Nasha Virodhi Committee led by Sarpanch Manjinder Singh. However, no objectionable material was recovered yet from any of the suspects, said the SHO.

Addressing a gathering of villagers including office-bearers and activists of various political and social organisations at Narangwal Kalan village, Sarpanch Manjinder Singh alleged that some anti-social elements, indulging in illicit trade of drugs, had threatened him and other activists of Nasha Virodhi Committee for trying to stop the inflow of drugs and narcotics in the village.

Apprehending a threat to his life, Sarpanch Manjinder Singh alleged that some of the said drug peddlers had old criminal records and could harm him and his associates easily. “We have recordings of threat calls made by those who were stopped by us from smuggling drugs and narcotics,” said Manjinder Singh, claiming that identities of drug peddlers, along with evidence, had been given to the Jodhan police.

Showing solidarity with the whistleblowers, the villagers announced to take the fight to its logical end.