Police crack the whip on drug peddlers in Doraha

The Khanna police, in their crackdown against drugs, froze the properties of three drug peddlers in Doraha under Section 68F of the NDPS Act. The smugglers have been identified as Lakhwinder Singh, alias Kami, and Rinkal, both residents of Balmiki Mohalla, and Rehman Khan, a resident of Lakkar Mandi, Doraha.

SSP Khanna Dr Jyoti Yadav Bains shared with newsmen that under the directions of the top officials of the department, the police officials were leaving no stone unturned to put drug smugglers behind bars. “Khanna police froze the properties of three identified drug smugglers today. Six FIRs have been registered against Lakhwinder at Doraha, RPF Ludhiana, and Payal police stations; three against Rinkal and two against Rehman at Doraha police station,” the SSP added.

“The immovable property of Lakhwinder, comprising a residential house in Ward 2, and Street 4 in Balmiki Mohalla, which was renovated at a cost of 2,25,000 was frozen. Also, the movable property, consisting of a two-wheeler worth Rs 50,000 and two air conditioners worth Rs 80,000 was frozen. Similarly, the immovable property of Rinkal, comprising a residential house in Ward 2, renovated at an estimated value of 1,80,000 and that of Rehman Khan in Lakkar Mandi, at its estimated value of Rs 2,50,000 had been frozen,” she said.

The SSP further shared that they had covered different wards of Doraha, including 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12 and 14, apart from holding meetings with villagers at Deep Nagar, Gurthali, Daburjee, Begowal, Katana Sahib, Rampur, Malhipur, Araichan, Kaddon, Bishanpura, Jaipura, Buani, Landa, Chankoian Kalan and Chankoian Khurd.

“The task ahead can be accomplished if the public, instead of shirking away from its moral duty, comes out openly to help the police in unmasking wrongdoers and antisocial elements. I believe that the involvement and support of the public can bring a sea change in the functioning of the department. It is through various community-oriented policies and programmes that a healthy rapport can be maintained with the public,” the SSP asserted.

She urged residents to spread the message against drug use and take effective steps to prevent the same. “If the youth is awake, none can muster the courage to use, sell, or supply such a deadly poison to anyone anywhere. It is for the young to rise up to the occasion and resist any and every sort of temptation, not only to save themselves but each and every individual who collectively forms a society and a nation on the whole,” she said.

She also asked social organisations to work together to strengthen the hands of the police towards ensuring a drug-free Punjab. The townsters and villagers of the surrounding areas jointly vowed to eradicate drugs entirely from their area and assured the official that if any case of drugs being supplied in any form came to their notice, they would report it to the police. They also vowed to have zero tolerance for persons who tried to indulge in the deadly trade.