Kataria praises village panels in curbing drugs

Governor Gulab Chand Kataria has praised the role of village defence committees (VDCs) in trying to eradicate drug menace in border villages.

He was in Fatehgarh Churian on Friday as part of his padyatra (foot march) against drug menace.

The primary aim of the VDCs is to maintain a close link with the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Punjab Police to curb cross-border smuggling of drugs, enhance security in the area and inform security agencies about the presence of drones.

Kataria also lauded the state government’s anti-drug campaign, “Yudh Nashian Virudh”. He said the initiative had started producing results. “People trapped in the quagmire of drugs are being provided free treatment at rehabilitation centres,” he said.

He was accompanied, among others, by Principal Secretary Vivek Partap Singh and secretary of the Indian Red Cross Society (Punjab) Shivdular Singh Dhillon. The foot march was organised from a marriage palace to the Pt Mohan Lal SD College for Women. Kataria pointed towards Pakistan and said the country was engaged in a conspiracy to weaken Punjab and Punjabis.