Bathinda: Locals begin patrolling to stop drug smuggling, police warn against 'breaking law'
PTC News Desk: Locals and police in Punjab's Bathinda have now met to discuss the issue of drug smuggling in the district. People have been seen patrolling the area at night to stop drug smuggling, but police have stated that this is against the law because it is their duty to conduct investigations.
Along with men, women and children have been forced to patrol the streets late at night in remote areas to apprehend drug traffickers. Women in Bathinda are standing vigil at night.
"Drug smuggling is taking place secretly. There is a lot of cheating going on. This is the work of the government, if they want, can shut down this smuggling in a minute but they are not doing so. Drug smugglers supply drugs at night. Police do not take any action, hence the villagers have started a campaign of blockade and patrolling at night," said a Bathinda woman.
Surinderpal Singh Parmar, the ADGP of Bhatinda Range, has stated that no one has the authority to take the law into their own hands. It is the responsibility of the police to investigate all.
"Nobody is allowed to take the law in their hands. If you are fond of stopping and searching people by creating blockades, then join the police. Action will be taken against unnecessarily stopping and searching people at night," he stated.
The ADGP further said that interrogating people unnecessarily is wrong. "This is the job of the police, it is the job of the people to inform the police and not to take the law into their own hands."
However, locals argue that this effort is necessary to combat increasing drug smuggling.
"People from other villages come here to smuggle drugs, which gives the area a bad reputation. To stop them, we have formed a committee so that people can be shown the right direction. We only interrogate, only those on whom we have complete suspicion are searched" a local said.
- ANI
