On Tuesday evening, Sonu Kumar, a 33-year-old man, passed away without being able to speak. His mother, Manjeet Kaur, shared that he repeatedly gestured for money during his final moments. “We refrained from giving him money because we wanted him to stop using drugs,” she lamented, crying. “We never anticipated that it would lead to his death.”
This tragic loss marks the fifth and last son that 60-year-old Manjeet has lost to addiction and its associated complications. Her family has endured the deaths of one son due to alcohol and four others from drug abuse, specifically the narcotic known as chitta. This incident has drawn significant attention in Punjab, reigniting discussions about the ongoing struggle against drug addiction in the region.
Residents of Sultanpur Lodhi village, particularly in the Mohalla Pandori area where Manjeet lives, hope that this tragedy will highlight the local drug crisis. They report that around a dozen young people from the neighborhood have died from drug-related issues in recent years.
Manjeet’s humble dwelling, constructed with funds from the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, is located merely 100 meters from a police station. The two-room home, with its uneven flooring and sparse furnishings, provides a glimpse into the family’s challenging living conditions. Manjeet supports her family of 12, which includes her daughters-in-law and grandchildren, with a monthly income of Rs 11,500 from various jobs at a gurdwara. One of her daughters-in-law additionally contributes Rs 10,000 as a municipal sanitation worker.
Tragedy has struck the family repeatedly; Manjeet’s eldest son, Jaswinder Singh Jassa, succumbed to alcohol addiction at the age of 26, followed by Balvinder, who died at 25. Ravi, 30, passed away in 2021 while incarcerated, allegedly due to false drug charges, and Mitthu died in 2023.
About ten days before Sonu’s death, Manjeet, in desperation, reached out to the police for help. This prompted a response from local authorities and medical personnel, leading to Sonu being admitted to a nearby hospital and later transferred to a government facility in Amritsar.
The Chief Minister of Punjab, Bhagwant Singh Mann, whose administration initiated an anti-drug campaign titled ‘Yudh Nasheyan Virudh’ a year prior, promised free medical treatment for Sonu. Unfortunately, by the time assistance arrived, it was too late.
According to Dr. Sanjeev Bhagat, the Civil Surgeon of Kapurthala, Sonu was admitted to the Civil Hospital in Sultanpur Lodhi after being assessed by the Senior Medical Officer, Dr. Subodh Kumar Kataria. Unfortunately, Sonu was diagnosed with a severe chest infection and fluid accumulation in his lungs before suffering a fatal heart attack.
Villagers indicate that many young individuals who succumbed to drug use in Mohalla Pandori were uneducated and worked as daily laborers. Charanjeet Kaur recounted the death of her elder son, Harpeet, who was found deceased at 34 after a decade-long struggle with addiction. “Initially, we were unaware of the severity of his condition. We tried everything to help him, but it was futile,” she shared, also mourning the loss of her younger son, Harjit, in 2023.
Sunita Rani told of her son, Lovepreet, who was still in school when he fell into drug use. “In 2014, we discovered him dead by the roadside due to an overdose.” She attributes the issue to the easy availability of drugs and recounted an incident where she was assaulted while confronting suspected addicts attempting to steal her family’s car. “The police did nothing to help,” she lamented.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Dhirendra Verma acknowledged recent efforts to combat drug use in the area, stating that they had conducted raids but found no drugs. He noted that four cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act had been filed against local residents.
Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Toora reported that in the past year, the district has seen the registration of 1,360 cases and the arrest of 1,700 drug traffickers, alongside significant recoveries of drugs, including heroin and opium.
The Aam Aadmi Party government claims success with their ‘Yudh Nasheyan Virudh’ initiative, focusing not just on enforcement but also on treatment and community involvement. Punjab’s Director General of Police, Law and Order, Arpit Shukla, noted that the campaign has led to over 80,000 cases being filed, 54,000 arrests, and the recovery of substantial quantities of drugs.
Authorities assert that around 90,000 individuals have successfully quit drugs thanks to rehabilitation programs, and village defense committees have been established with numerous volunteers to aid in combating substance abuse. Anti-drone technology has also been deployed to counter cross-border drug trafficking.
Despite these efforts, experts express concern that without ongoing local enforcement, effective rehabilitation, and socio-economic support, the fight against drug addiction will falter. Dr. Harshinder Kaur, a professor and president of a charitable trust, criticized the state’s approach as being at odds with international best practices. She advocates for harm reduction strategies, such as providing clean syringes to prevent disease transmission, rather than restricting access.
Dr. Harshinder emphasized the necessity to tackle the root causes of drug dependency among youth. “We must address environmental factors and underlying issues rather than merely treating the symptoms,” she stated.
In Mohalla Pindori, the sentiments expressed by Dr. Harshinder resonate deeply. None of Manjeet’s five sons completed their education beyond the sixth grade. Mitthu was the only one to maintain steady employment with the Municipal Council, earning Rs 10,000 monthly and contributing significantly to the household. “He played a vital role in building this home,” Manjeet recalled.
