Poppy husk vends to close today, addicts look for substitutes

[related-post]

Harman Sidhu, who runs the NGO, has welcomed the government’s decision, but poppy husk consumers are sending him hate messages and even asking why he has not take up the issue of synthetic drugs.

Sukhwant Singh Brar, a Faridkot-based truck driver, said,”I am a truck driver who drives 20 hours at a stretch. We travel in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The aftereffects of this closure will be visible after a fortnight when drivers will either stop work or will start on some other addiction.”

Brar admitted that he had taken poppy husk from Rajasthan vends on a regular basis. So is the case of a taxi driver Baljeet Singh, who is based in Malaut. He said,”We are close to the Rajasthan border and hence poppy husk was easily available. It was suiting our pockets and we were able to work afterwards. Other addictions make you sit back at home and do nothing. The government needs to analyse everything.” Brar said,”Has Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal’s de-addiction centres done something for the poppy husk addicts? I know husk will be available, but at double the price in the black market. It is available at Rs 5000 per kg at the end of this financial year. It was priced between Rs 2000-3000 per kg a few months ago. Prices are likely to increase in the coming days.”

SHO Tejinder Pal, posted at police station Khuai Sarvar, close to the Rajasthan border in Fazilka district of Punjab, said, “I caught two persons from Jalalabad, carrying 52-kg stock of poppy husk, last week, and a woman from Abohar was held with 4-kg stock. So these days, we are extra vigilant because addicts will be trying to stock for the coming few weeks.”

Similar is the condition at Bhavwala police station which is also close to the Rajasthan border. More than 10 cases have been lodged in this police station under the NDPS Act, this month. All the cases concern Punjab residents bringing poppy husk from Rajasthan.

The real effect of the shutdown would be visible from April 1, and thereafter, poppy husk would be available to license holders only through health centres in Rajasthan, said police authorities at Abohar.