2 Karnal villages up in arms against drugs, liquor

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, September 28

To curb the menace of drugs and illicit liquor, two villages in the district have shown the way to others.

The Ballah panchayat in Assandh block has decided that no villager will stand as a guarantor of a drug peddler at the time of his bail.

The Katlaheri panchayat has taken the similar decision against those selling illicit liquor. Residents of both villages will keep tabs on people selling drugs and liquor.

Dilawar Singh, sarpanch of Ballah, said the supply of drugs, particularly smack, had become a headache for villagers. 

Two youths with drugs were arrested last week, following which the panchayat called a meeting. “It decided against facilitating bail of drug peddlers. No member of the panchayat and nambardar will go to court to identify a drug peddler, Dilawar Singh said.

S Maan of Ballah village said the panchayat had set an example for others. “All panchayats should come forward against the menace of drugs, so that the youth can be saved.”

Krishan Lal, sarpanch of Katlaheri village, said the panchayat was getting complaints of brawls in families because of liquor sale.

“A meeting of villagers was called. It was decided that no villager will go for bail of the people arrested on the charge of selling illicit liquor,” he said. Manoj Kumar of Katlaheri said the district administration had appreciated the decisions of the two panchayats.