Chandigarh: The Punjab government’s anti-drug campaign, Yudh Nashe Virudh, has come under scrutiny after a mother from Ludhiana claimed that all six of her sons died due to the drug ‘chitta’ over the past 13 years.
Police, however, said five of the deaths were linked to alcoholism and related illnesses, and only one was related to drugs.Shinder Kaur, a resident of Sherewal village in Ludhiana district, lost her youngest son, 20-year-old Jasvir Singh, who was found dead near a canal earlier this month. Kaur now lives with her daughter-in-law and grandson and relies on a widow’s pension of Rs 1,500 per month.
She recounted losing her husband, Mukhtyar Singh, in a road accident in 2012, and subsequently cremating her six sons over the years.
According to Kaur, her eldest son, Kulwant Singh, died in 2013 due to drugs. Other sons—Gurdeep Singh, Jaswant Singh, Raju Singh, Baljeet Singh, and Jasvir Singh—also died over the following years, with Kaur alleging drug use as the cause.
Criticising the state government, Kaur said, “Those selling drugs are apprehended but later released. The sale of chitta is going on unchecked. Authorities should take action against such peddlers to prevent other families from suffering.”
Her daughter-in-law, Paramjit Kaur, confirmed the family’s struggles, saying that they live in a three-room house and survive on daily wages and the widow’s pension.
She added that after her husband Raju Singh’s death, she moved with her children to her parents’ home.Police sources provided a different account.
They said Mukhtyar Singh died in a road accident as an alcoholic, two sons died from liver ailments, another son from depression and alcohol, and Jasvir Singh recently due to alleged liquor consumption. Only Raju Singh’s death was directly linked to drugs.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Ludhiana (Rural), Ankur Gupta, said a case of culpable homicide has been registered against two people, including a woman, with one arrest made. He added that investigations are ongoing and action will be taken as per law.Locals in Sherewal village have staged protests demanding stricter action against drug peddlers.
