Muktsar: Drug cases against women rise six-fold in 3 yrs

MUKTSAR : In a sign that the drug menace is also entrapping women in the district, around 13% (one in every eight) of cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act last fiscal (2017-18) were against women.

With 47 cases against women of total 365, the absolute number where women have either been booked or arrested increased two-fold over the 2016-17 figure of 22 cases.

Last year’s figure is a straight six-time increase in cases against women over 2015-16, when only 8 (3.5%) of the total of 225 cases were against the fairer sex. All figures in this report have been procured from data acquired under the Right to Information (RTI).

For the three years since 2015, of total 761 NDPS cases registered in the district, 77 (10%) were against women. In sequence, 225 cases were registered in 2015-16, the number dipped 25% during the last year of the SAD-BJP regime to 171. In 2017-18, the first year of the Congress regime, the number more than doubled to 365 cases and cases against women column also shot up to 47.

The number of excise cases also jumped substantially over 2015-16 (180), to 197 in 2016-17 to 447 last year. Of these, only a negligible number of cases was against women.

Muktsar SSP Manjeet Singh Dhesi said, “There is a sustained drive against drugs and we have asked the public for information. This has led to the increased number of cases. In general, the number of cases is lower against women as compared to men. Women might be lured by money or drugs.”

Speaking to HT over phone, Deepak Kumar, professor, sociology department, Punjabi University, Patiala, said, “Women have been given more freedom in this era. They are just following suit of what is happening in society. It is true that some women are entrapped. People are hesitant to discuss the issue. We need deeper research on the issue.”

He added, “Drug addiction is a problem related to the structure of the society. The bond between the youth and the society is missing and disappointed youngsters get relief from drugs. The quest for a lavish lifestyle fuels this trade.”

FOR THE THREE YEARS SINCE 2015, OF TOTAL 761 NDPS CASES REGISTERED IN THE DISTRICT, 77 (10%) WERE AGAINST WOMEN