Hindustan Times (Amritsar)

Tarn Taran man ties addict son with chain to stop him from taking drugs

- Anil Sharma letterschd@hindustant­imes.com

SAYS THERE IS EASY AVAILABILI­TY OF DRUGS IN THE AREA AND POLICE HAVE FAILED TO REIN IN PEDDLERS DESPITE HIS REPEATED COMPLAINTS

TAR NT AR AN: Am an i nB hikhiw ind village of Tarn Taran district has chained his 24-year-old son to prevent him from taking drugs.

Jagtar Singh says he was forced to do this because police have failed to act on his complaints against drug peddlers.

“My son, Sukhwinder Singh, has spent around ₹3 lakh on heroin and smack. I informed police about the peddlers from whom my son used to purchase heroin. However, instead of acting against them, the cops are threatenin­g to book my son instead, if I complain against the smugglers again,” Jagtar said.

He claimed that he had also approached station house officer, Balwinder Singh, to arrest the drug peddlers but the officer did not act on his complaints. Furthermor­e, Jagtar said the police also refused to register his complaints.

Sukhwinder has completed Class 12. The family has an agrarian background and owns a truck. He purchases drugs by selling household goods. “My son sold an android mobile phone and jewellery to buy drugs (Sukhwinder also confirmed this). When I informed police about this, they brought back the mobile phone but have failed to arrest the drug peddlers,” Jag- tar said.

Deputy superinten­dent of police (DSP), Bhikhiwind, Sukhwinder Singh Mann said, “After receiving informatio­n about the person to whom Sukhwinder sold his mobile phone, the SHO conducted a raid and recovered it. The accused, Gurpreet Singh Goppy, managed to flee the spot. But the police arrested him on September 29 with one gram of heroin.”

The DSP however rubbished Jagtar’s allegation that police have refused to register his other complaints against drug peddlers and that he was threatened by the cops.

“It is not possible that the SHO will not register such complaints,” he said.

Jagtar said he also took his son to the de-addiction centre in Tarn Taran, however when he returned, he started his old habits again “because drugs are being openly being sold in the area”.

Speaking about his habits, Sukhiwnder said, “I want to quit taking drugs but because of their easy availabili­ty, I am unable to do so.” He claimed that many drug peddlers are active in villages like Bhikhiwind, Puhla, Marimegha.

He said he knows drug peddlers who are active in the region and can help the police in arresting them.

“But the cops are hand in glove with them,” he alleged.

 ??  ?? Sukhwinder Singh, a Class12 passout, sells household goods to purchase drugs. HT PHOTO
Sukhwinder Singh, a Class12 passout, sells household goods to purchase drugs. HT PHOTO

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