Arresting crime rate on Fazilka MLA Narinderpal Singh Sawna's priority list

Praful Chander Nagpal

Fazilka, April 14

Situated on the India-Pak border and sharing boundary with Rajasthan and Haryana, Fazilka has gained a certain notoriety for anti-social activities. It is considered a transit route to smuggle narcotics from neighbouring states.

Newly elected Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Narinderpal Singh Sawna (30) says he has his task cut out. “I will work hard to curb criminal activities and drug menace in this border belt,” he says.

Drastic change

During the previous government, thefts and snatchings were common. With the AAP government in the saddle, there has been a drastic decline in anti-social activities. —Narinderpal Singh Sawna, Fazilka MLA

“During the previous government, incidents of thefts, chain-snatching and mobile-snatching, and hooliganism were common. With the AAP government in the saddle, there has been a drastic fall in anti-social activities,” claims Swana.

Swana, a diploma holder in Nursery Teacher Training (NTT), started his political career in 2009 with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). He was nominated the president of the Students Organisation of India (SOI), a youth body of the SAD. Swana joined AAP in April 2021.

He proved his mettle by defeating BJP stalwart Surjit Kumar Jyani and then Congress MLA Davinder Singh Ghubaya by a handsome margin.

“My aim is to increase forest area in the town by planting more trees. At present, less than three per cent of the town’s area is under green belt,” said Sawna.

Also on his agenda is to fill vacant posts of medical specialist doctor in the district hospital and that of professor in local government college, and introduce postgraduate classes at the only government institution in the town.