Women Panches for intensification of drive to weed out drug menace

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, Apr 26: The newly elected Panches of block Barnoti in Kathua district today urged the police to take strong action against the drug peddlers in the area who are ruining the youth. Besides, the increasing drug menace in the area has also increasing crime rate, they added.
The panches made complaints in this regard to Additional SP Kathua, Ramnish Gupta during three days Capacity Building Training programme held at Barnoti. The Programme was held about the frequent sale of drugs and liquor openly in rural area.
The women Panches drawn from Block Barnoti who dared to complaint about the frequent sale of Illicit liquor, drugs, and gambling in the villages said that the new generation is spoiling their future due to open sale of drugs and liquor and there is no check of police to control it. The Panches of Budhi, Barnoti, Nanan, Ghatti, Dabobal, Barwal, Merath, Bakhta, Jakhole, Dhani, Rajbagh, Chhan Arodian, Amala and it’s adjoining villages showed their serious concern over the sale of drugs including Chitta, running of Illicit liquor distilleries
and selling of country made liquor without any fear.
Due to which the crime rate in villages is also increasing day by day. These goons have spread such fear psychosis in the area that they attack people who raise their voice against them.
The women Panches who refused to disclose their names said that they have also lodged complaints in Rajbagh Police Station against the narcotics sale. But all in vain and no action till the date has been taken. They said that Illicit liquor distilleries are running and illicit liquor is sold like milk in the village.
Another Panch of Barwal village also complained that some Sarpanchs and Panches are promoting the illegal business. “I was also attacked by drugs peddler four months back and police could not take action till date.
The Additional SP, Kathua, Ramnish Gupta assured the complainants to take necessary action against the anti social elements and said that the Police Department has already launched a campaign against drug menace. He appealed the Sarapanches and Panches to share the valuable information with police in this matter, if lower level police officers did not take care of complaints, they can approach to higher authority in Police Department, he added.