Patti: Drug menace, poor infra irk locals
Gurbaxpuri
Amid rising drug abuse cases and deteriorating law and order situation, residents of Patti are complaining of poor civic amenities, faulty sewer lines, inadequate drinking water supply and broken roads. They allege no successive government spared a thought to change their lives.
They say several youths die due to drug abuse here, but are shown as natural deaths. Though the police recover drugs and peddlers are arrested, but nothing is done to curb the menace, they say.
Mukhtiar Singh, chief organiser of a social society, said drugs were now easily available in several towns and villages. “Peddlers have now hired armed gangsters, which has further deteriorated the law and order situation,” he said.
Residents say gangsters are well connected with politicians and don’t fear law any more. They say a few days ago, two gangsters were shot dead during a clash over cash dealings.
They say the situation has worsened to such an extent that snatching purses and even killing women for it has become a minor incident now. There is a locality in the town where just a few vehicles have a registration number as these have been stolen. “People don’t think before abandoning such vehicles, particularly after committing a crime,” they say.
Locals’ key demands
- Shift bus stand out of town
- Better drinking water facilities
- Finish Patti-Ferozepur rail link
- Complete Rasulpur highway
Past trend
Kairon family belongs to Patti. Cong’s Partap Singh Kairon was elected the CM from here in 1952, the first polls after the Independence. His wife Ram Kaur Kairon, too, represented the constituency in 1967. Adesh Partap Singh Karion was elected thrice from here (1997-2012)
Electorate strength
Total voters: 1,95,515
Male: 1,02,121
Female: 93,384
Third gender: 10
