Social activists urged to aid district administration in fight against drugs

Identifying drug abuse as a social crisis, besides being a law and order problem, the district administration has called upon the constituents of social, constitutional and religious bodies to join hands in the fight against the drug menace in the state.

An appeal was made jointly by ADC Sukhpreet Singh Sidhu, Ahmedgarh SDM Harbans Singh and Amargarh SDM Rakesh Garg, following a district-level meeting of Narco Coordination Committee, held under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner Viraj S Tidke.

“Drug addiction is entirely different from normal crimes as it is a social crisis which can be resolved through coordinated efforts from all sections of society, besides the civil and police administration,” said Sidhu. He claimed excellent results had been achieved since the launch of the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign.

Police officials, posted at various police stations, had registered 55 cases under the NDPS Act and recovered a rich haul of drugs and narcotics, including 252-gm heroin, 2-kg opium, 1,500-gm poppy husk , 620 habit forming capsules and tablets, 9-kg poppy plants, 350-gm sulpha and drug money more than Rs 99,000. Immovable property worth Rs 34 lakh, belonging to a peddler, was also attached during the period.

Meanwhile, SDMs Harbans Singh and Rakesh Garg said executive magistrates had been advised to convene meetings of office-bearers of social and religious organisations, besides councillors and sarpanches; and persuade them to associate with the campaign against drug abuse.

“Having received instructions from DC Tidke we have started sensitising residents about social aspects of the fight launched against the menace of drug abuse,” said Harban, appreciating that several organisations had come forward to play active role in spreading awareness on the issue, besides sharing responsibility to rehabilitate youths undergoing drug de-addiction.