Protest over drug menace, week after youth dies of drug overdose in Bathinda

A week after a youngster allegedly died of a drug overdose at Paras Ram Nagar here, area residents, under the banner of ‘Sanjha Morcha’, on Tuesday, staged a protest on Gurukul Road, seeking the demolition of illegal shanties allegedly built by slum dwellers and accusing them of selling drugs.

The protesters claimed that the local MLA’s house is also nearby, but the administration is in deep slumber over the issue. They also said Padamjeet Mehta, whose term as mayor recently ended, is the councillor from this ward.

Former councillor Harvinder Singh said, “We want the district administration and the police to act against the illegal shanties, which have been built on encroached public land. Five youths have died due to ‘chitta’ in this area so far this year, but the municipal corporation and the district administration are not acting, forcing us to lodge a protest. Illegal activities are on the rise in Paras Ram Nagar, Jogi Nagar, Arjun Nagar, Gopal Nagar and Janta Nagar.”

Meanwhile, a protester, Pramjit Kaur, said, “My son-in-law died due to drugs. Now, my son is a drug addict. He sold land to buy drugs. I appeal to the authorities to make the area drug-free.”

Notably, the drug and socio-economic census has commenced in the state on Tuesday.