DRUG ABUSE GROWING PROBLEM AMONG PUNJAB YOUTH

HOSHIARPUR: Drugged in their hunger to reach the Parliament, political
parties and politicians have failed to address one of the most crucial
issues-the growing drug abuse amongst Punjabi youth and their subsequent
involvement in crime for easy money.

The recent arrest of a group of roadside dacoits by the Hoshiarpur police
early on Monday morning is an example of a growing reality. The police
arrested four persons Sukhwinder Singh, Gian Chand, Shiv Kumar and Gurtej
Singh, all in the age group of between twenty and thirty, at an early
morning raid near village Nangal Ishar. One person Malkiat Singh managed to
escape.

SSP Hoshiarpur claims that all the young persons are opium addicts and
their interrogation has revealed that they committed crime for easy money
and drugs. One.12 country made revolver, single barrel.315 pistol and live
ammunition was recovered from the accused.

The four have been arrested in connection with a gun-point robbery in which
the gang snatched away Rs.1.5 lakhs from a Jalandhar based businessman
after which a case was registered at the Tanda police station in January.
Incidentally, one of the arrested Sukhwinder Singh alias Bunty was the car
driver of the businessman. There are various other cases registered against
this gang at different places in Punjab