Inactive for nearly two years, anti-drug committees to be revived in Muktsar district
Muktsar, July 5
Anti-drug committees are all set to be revived in Muktsar as residents of Gurusar, Kotli and Gidderbaha villages have held meetings in this regard.
In the past, these committees were effective in passing relevant information to the authorities concerned and also aided the arrest of some drug peddlers. However, these had turned inactive for the past over two years due to alleged police inaction and lack of support.
Ranjit Singh, an anti-drug crusader from Gurursar village who claimed to have provided a list of some drug peddlers to the Chief Minister’s Office recently, said, “In the past, I was the co-ordinator of anti-drug committees in the district. Now, residents of some villages have again approached me to revive these committees. We have already held a meeting at our village and 86 people have come forward as volunteers for this purpose. We will not take law into our hands, but keep an eye on any suspicious movement and pass authentic information to the police.”
He said, “Residents of Kotli and Gidderbaha villages too have approached me to form anti-drug committees. Those willing to become members should be ready to support the police. During former CM Capt Amarinder Singh’s tenure, we have worked under the Drug Abuse Prevention Officer (DAPO) programme as well, but we had turned inactive and dissolved the committees due to lack of support and police inaction.”
Muktsar SSP Bhagirath Singh Meena said, “Our teams are already spreading awareness on drugs and if anyone wants to support police in maintaining law and order or to keep a check on drug menace, he/she is welcome. However, they should just assist the police and not become law enforcement agency itself.” The district police had recently rescued a young drug addict, who was chained at her residence. Later, she was admitted to the Muktsar Civil Hospital for treatment.
The number of HIV patients has also increased (318 in 2022-23 to 725 in 2023-24) in the district, mostly due to the use of intravenous drugs.
