The irrigation department in Gurdaspur recently served eviction notices to over 50 households in Deeda Sansian village on the request of local police. The village, which comes under Dinanagar police station, has been long notorious as a safe haven for drug peddlers involved in supplying heroin in the area.
Frustrated by repeated unsuccessful raids on peddlers who would flee the village on receiving tip-offs, police approached the irrigation department as a large part of the village has come up illegally on its owned land. Most households are lavishly built with some even having private swimming pools, indicating generations of involvement in illicit drug trade.
Relying on intelligence provided by police identifying alleged offenders, the department issued notices to 55 inhabitants, directing them to vacate the houses by August 12th. In the past too, despite concerted efforts drug problem could not be curbed as peddlers had links in police aiding their escape before raids.
Dinanagar SHO confirmed issuance of notices pasted outside houses of the accused persons. Failing vacation, concerned department will request deputy commissioner to order police action as per law. The drive aims to disrupt the village's notorious role in safeguarding drug supply operations in the area by evacuating suspected offenders living on grabbed public land.
