In Bathinda hotspot, taking on drug peddlers not an option
Har Raipur, a village located around 19 km from the district headquarters, has become a hotspot for the sale of drugs in the region. Some people in the village openly sell drugs and anyone from the village objecting to it is threatened with dire consequences, instilling fear in them. Even police raids have failed to check the illegal activity.
Villagers said a police team headed by the SHO had raided a house in the village once, but it was attacked by the drug mafia. Cops were forced to open fire in order to control the situation.
A villager, whishing anonymity, told The Tribune, “The issue of drugs is alarming in the village. It’s easily available and many youths in the village are addicts.”
He added that due to the drug menace, thefts had increased in the village as drug addicts steal copper wire from transformers, motor starters and anything they get their hands on.
Villagers claimed that if the police made an arrest from the village in a drug case, the accused treated the informer as enemy after getting released on bail.
Angrej Singh, Sarpanch of the village, said “Police patrolling has been intensified in the village and residents have been told to not support anyone in getting bail in drug case.”
Bir Talab Basti, too, has earned a tag of being the drug and illicit liquor hotspot. A youth from Bir Talab claimed that many people from nearby areas daily visited his village to purchase contraband.
The police have identified 28 hotspots in the district. Those in the urban areas are Santpura road, Grain market, Sukhpeer road, Udham Singh Nagar, Janta Nagar, Sanjay Nagar and Dhobiana Basti and the ones in rural areas are Harraipur, Jeeda, Bhagibandar, Singo, Raman Mandi, old Taxi stand near government hospital at Talwandi Sabo, Raman village, Maluka, Bhagta, Kothaguru, Sariyewala, Hakam Singhwala, Chauke, Gandhi Basti, Sailbrah, Bhai Rupa, Bhundar, Maur Kalan, Ghuman Kalan, Basti No. 2 Bir Talab and Nar Singh Colony.
SSP Amneet Kondal said “The police have been regularly conducted raids and search operations in the 28 drug hotspots identified in the district. As many as 52 cordon and search operations (CASO) have been conducted at these hotspots this year and 61 FIRs registered in this regard. As many as 138 persons were arrested in drug cases.”
The police have recovered 595 grams of heroin, 2,070 habit-forming tablets, 16 kg of poppy husk and Rs 1.37 lakh drug money from the accused.
The SSP said strict instructions had been given to officials to curb the menace of drugs in the district. “There is zero tolerance towards drug smugglers,” she added.
Overall, 576 drug cases have been registered in the district so far and 917 persons arrested. The police recovered 7.6 kg of heroin, 147 vehicles, 19.9 kg of opium, 8,649 kg of poppy husk, 1.81 lakh capsules, 49 syrup bottles, 100 kg of ganja and Rs 23.83 lakh drug money.
