Golden Temple: Galiara haven for drug addicts, cops claim ‘no info’

Local councillor, Amritsar Development Authority acknowledge menace, police say will act only on complaint

3 min readAmritsarUpdated: Jul 12, 2016 01:01 PM IST

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The galiara is a park that surrounds the shrine. It is a buffer zone that came up after Operation Bluestar. Express

The outer corridor (called the galiara) of the Golden Temple, an important area from a security point of view, has become a haven for drug addicts. Local residents claim the addicts are responsible for many crimes in the area. Although many authorities have acknowledged the problem, the police say they will consider action only if someone approached it with a complaint.

The over 1 km long galiara is a park that surrounds the Golden Temple complex. It is a buffer zone that came up after Operation Bluestar and is controlled by Amritsar Development Authority.

“Drug addicts can be found in galiara during anytime of the day,” said Manmohan Singh Titu, local SAD councillor. “They basically live here, while living off the food from the Golden Temple and stealing from the shrine’s devotees and residents living here to buy drugs.”

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The Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandak Committee (SGPC) had earlier tried to free the galiara from addicts but were in vain.

“My friends reported that their motorcycles were stolen when the left it outside galiara,” continued Titu. “They are a threat to children and women.”

He accused the local police of doing nothing to secure the area. “It is not possible for addicts to stay inside the galiara without help from the local police. We had raised this matter with cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majithia in 2015,” he said. “He immediately ordered the transfer of all 16 officials deployed at the galiara police post. But now, six of them have returned and the galiara is as unsafe as it was.”

“You can check the record of galiara police post. They will never registered a theft case whenever anyone reports it. Instead, they will register report of “missing belongings” instead of theft,” said Titu. “We had also raised this issue with Amritsar Development Authority but they didn’t respond.”

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Sanjay Joshi, coordinator of Nanhi Chann Foundation, which maintains the galiara admitted to the menace. “But it is not in our capacity to remove the addicts. It is a law and order problem and that is the police’s domain.”

Amaritsar Development Authority XEN Surjit Singh also said they were helpless in the matter. “If we attempt to move them, these addicts may attack our workers. We cannot risk our workers’ safety.”

Golden Temple manager Sulakhan Singh said, “I took charge recently. We used to identify such elements and remove them. We had also sent our men to remove these addicts from Galiara. We will again request to police for the same.”

When contacted, Police Commissioner Amritsar Amar Singh Chahal said that he had no first hand information about the problem. “I have joined recently. I will look into it if someone approaches us with a complaint,” he said.

Kamaldeep Singh Brar

Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts. Core Beats & Specializations Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions. National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups. Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies: 1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht "Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015. "YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies. "As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications. 2. Crime & National Security "Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison. "Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border. "15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions. 3. Political Analysis & Elections "AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress. "Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages. "AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions. 4. Human Interest "Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction. "Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo. Signature Beat Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect. X (Twitter): @kamalsbrar ... Read More

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