The desperate, teary-eyed appeals of a mother of five sons from Pandori Mohalla in Sultanpur Lodhi have gone viral on social media. Of her five sons, Manjeet Kaur has lost four to drugs, while the fifth is currently bedridden and fighting for life. She says drugs are easily available just a short walk from her house, with men selling “chitta” openly in the locality, which shares a boundary wall with the Sultanpur Lodhi police station.
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The rampant “chitta” abuse in the locality has left mothers urging the state government to end the scourge. Apart from Manjeet, at least four to five other women reported losing their sons to drugs. With the police station located right next to the area, local women have appealed to the police to stop drug sales and save their children.
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Elderly women clutch their grandchildren as repeated deaths have led many daughters-in-law to leave the village. Several families have admitted their sons to rehabilitation centres, but many relapse, they say.
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“I was a mother of five sons. I have lost four of them to ‘chitta’ and there’s no telling how long the fifth will survive. We haven’t eaten food for three days… See his condition,” Manjeet Kaur said, breaking down as she stood beside her son Sonu (30), who lay on a bed, reduced to a skeleton.
Sonu is suffering from a severe liver infection, allegedly due to drug abuse, and has been bedridden for the past 10 days. He is unable to eat or speak.
Crying inconsolably, Manjeet said, “When my son cries for drugs, it is unbearable. Our sons have stolen sickles and cylinders for drugs. Drugs are available within a 10-minute walk, and men on bikes with covered faces sell them in the village. We appeal to the police and to CM Bhagwant Mann with folded hands to save our locality. Search our homes and the area, but root out drugs from here.”
A neighbour said, “Our sons are addicted to ‘chitta’. Drugs have become a compulsion. We don’t know where they get it from, but it is easily available. They even sell their mothers’ belongings for it.”
Bedridden Sonu has two children — a two-year-old son and a four-month-old daughter. His 20-year-old wife said, “Doctors have said my husband’s condition is incurable. We got married three years ago. Three of his elder brothers had already died before that, and a younger brother died months after our wedding. We appeal to the authorities to get my husband treated so that his life may be saved. We survive on the earnings of my mother-in-law, who works in households. I too could have left, but I cannot abandon my helpless in-laws.”
Harinder Singh, SHO, Sultanpur Lodhi police station, said, “We have visited the locality and got several youths admitted for de-addiction treatment. Cases have also been registered against some men. At least 10-12 NDPS cases have been registered against accused from the village in recent times. The ailing son of Manjeet Kaur will also be admitted to hospital tomorrow.”
Hargurdev Singh, DSP (Crime), Kapurthala, said, “The issue is in our notice. The police have been taking proactive steps to help locals. Our campaign against drugs is ongoing