Increasing involvement of women in drug trade in Punjab's Kapurthala raises concerns: Report

Kapurthala (Punjab) [India], October 24 : Recent reports have indicated a surge in the involvement of women in drug trade in villages like Dogranwal, Boot, Lakkhan Khole, and Hamira, raising concerns among law enforcement and the local population, Khalsa Vox reported.
Over the past year, the Subhanpur police station has registered a total of 25 FIRs against women involved in drug trafficking, shedding light on the expanding role of women in this trade. This issue isn't limited to Subhanpur, as a senior police official suggests that the total figures for the district are likely much higher, according to Khalsa Vox, a Punjab-based online digest.
This concerning trend is closely linked to the rise of social media, where videos showing women engaged in drug-related activities have gone viral, bringing their involvement to the forefront. Hardeep Singh, the SHO of Subhanpur, explains, "Women have been indulging in drug trade for long, but cases have started surfacing in recent times, ever since videos of them selling drugs began doing the rounds on social media."
One notable case that gained public attention involved a teenage girl from Badshahpur, whose video showing her selling drugs went viral in Kapurthala. Her father, already facing multiple charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, was imprisoned along with her mother and brother, all facing similar allegations. This incident underscores the depth of the issue in the district.
The problem isn't limited to a single village; instead, it appears to have spread across multiple communities, with villages like Dogranwal, Boot, Lakkhan Khole, and Hamira becoming notorious hubs for drug-related activities. Over the past six years, police sources reveal that at least 50 women from these villages have been booked under the NDPS Act, highlighting the drug trade's grip on the hinterland, as reported by Khalsa Vox.
What's even more concerning is that, in a significant number of cases, women have entered the drug trade after their husbands were arrested for similar offences. The cycle continues as families turn to the lucrative drug trade to make ends meet, often due to financial constraints.
Sukha Singh, who has tragically lost two brothers to the drug trade, expresses his concerns: "I want to save my next generation. There are 5-7 houses where women sell 'chitta'. Some had gone to jail, but once out on bail, they resumed operations. It's hard for them to give it up."
Local law enforcement officials, including Vatsala Gupta, the Senior Superintendent of Police in Kapurthala, are acutely aware of the issue. Gupta acknowledges that awareness campaigns and search operations are continuously conducted to discourage people from engaging in drug-related activities. She said, "Some women take to the trade when their husbands or kin are jailed."
Assistant Sub-inspector Gurbachan Singh, who is at the forefront of the fight against drug abuse, highlights unemployment as a major driving factor for both men and women entering the drug trade. While campaigns urging individuals to seek rehabilitation have been launched, only a few have taken up the offer, leaving the community grappling with a growing drug problem.
The circumstances in Kapurthala's villages are undeniably critical. With women increasingly assuming leadership in the drug trade, there is a growing urgency to implement comprehensive solutions, such as tackling unemployment and providing rehabilitation. It is imperative for the communities to come together to disrupt the cycle of drug-related crime and secure a brighter future for the generations ahead, Khalsa Vox reported.