Punjab CM cracks down on drug menace, transfers entire Police post staff in Bathinda

Bathinda (The Uttam Hindu): Taking a tough stance against drug abuse in Punjab, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has taken a major administrative decision. The entire staff of Bathinda's Sadar police station has been transferred. This action came after complaints regarding alleged police negligence in addressing drug-related deaths reached the Chief Minister directly.

The issue was raised strongly before panchayat representatives, leaders, and officials during a meeting held at the Balwant Gargi Auditorium in Bathinda on Sunday. Lakha Singh, the village head of Gulabgarh village, told the Chief Minister that many people in his village and surrounding areas had lost their lives due to drug abuse, but despite repeated complaints to the police, no concrete action had been taken.

Taking immediate cognizance of the complaint, the Chief Minister ordered the transfer of all Sadar Police Station staff from Bathinda to Pathankot and the deployment of new personnel. He sternly stated, "I want action against drugs, so why isn't this action being taken? Why are people complaining? This delay will not be tolerated at all. Take immediate action." Following the Chief Minister's order, Bathinda Range DIG Harjeet Singh was assigned the responsibility for action. The DIG stated that the relevant staff had been transferred to Mansa and new personnel would be appointed soon. He also stated that an investigation would be conducted into why timely action was not taken.

Regarding this entire incident, Sarpanch Lakha Singh said that he had merely presented his village's plight to the Chief Minister. He said that the drug trade is continuously growing in the area and many families have been devastated due to it, but his concerns were not being heard at the local level. Now he hopes that the government's strictness will improve the situation.