35 women arrested for drug peddling in three months

During a press conference held by Gurpreet Deo, Special DGP, Community Affairs Division and Women Affairs, Punjab, recently the official provided details about the ongoing campaign against drugs, ‘Yudh Nasheyan Virudh’, in the state. It was stated that about 170 drug peddlers were arrested in March alone in Ludhiana.

It is not that only male drug peddlers are operating here, the data available with the Police Commissionerate here states that 35 women were also arrested by the police for drug peddling since January 1 to March 31 from Ludhiana. The data shows that four women were nabbed in January, eight in February and 23 peddlers were nabbed in March with drugs from several areas.

A retired official in the Anti-Narcotics Department of the police wishing not to be quoted said several women were actively involved in drug peddling. The major reason for the same was easy and quick money.

Citing an example, he said if the husband was arrested by the police, the work was taken over by his wife with the support of the spouse for easy money and to make ends meet.

A senior official said the department had interrogated many women peddlers. Rarely there were cases in which they joined the illegal trade due to family circumstances, the greed to get easy and quick money was the lone major reason for them to indulge in the trade.

The official said most of the women were married and having families.

Ludhiana