Rates of drugs up in Jalandhar
From Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Nov 13 — Because the rates of smack, opium etc stand hiked in Jalandhar due to the Adampur byelection slated for November 25, drug peddlars and smugglers have started smuggling the intoxicants from the adjoining districts.

The startling fact came to light when the newly created "Nasha Virodhi Staff" (anti-drugs staff) arrested Granthi Preetam Singh, a resident of Mali Nangal Khera village, Adampur (Jalandhar) police station with a consignment of smack.

During investigations Preetam Singh confessed that he was taking the smack to Adampur for sale as the rates of drugs in the constituency had sky-rocketed due to the by-elections. He told the anti-drugs staff that while the rate of brown sugar was Rs 200 per gram in Amritsar, it would fetch Rs 300 per gram in Adampur.

Similarly, the Guru Nanak Dev University authorities have expelled a student of B.Sc. (I) microbiology on charges of taking drugs. She was caught when her room mate in the hostel complained that her money had been stolen. During investigations, the security staff of the university seized the stolen money and also drugs from her possession.

The Dean, Students Welfare, Dr Bikram Singh Ghuman, admitted that the student had been expelled from the hostel on charges of consuming intoxicants.

Earlier, Mr G.S. Sahota of the district police, had said that the Amritsar police had arrested a woman drug peddler who was the main supplier to the hostel for girls. Her husband and other family members who were also involved in the drug-trafficking too were arrested.

The district police has also said that it has initiated stern action against four police officials, including an SHO, who were allegedly hand-in-glove with the drug peddlars in certain cases.

It said the smugglers use mobile telephones and pagers for striking deals.