Barnala, July 26 —A 26-year-old youth Beant Singh died of a suspected Chitta (heroin) overdose in Channanwal village of Barnala district late Friday night, according to reports.
Belonging to a poor labourer family, Beant had reportedly been addicted to injectable drugs for a long time.
According to his father, Bhupinder Singh, the young man had become deeply dependent on heroin and often stole from home to sustain his addiction.
“Many times I tried to make him understand, but he would get angry and start fighting,” the grieving father said.
“Last night he came home with Chitta, had dinner and went to bed. By morning, he was gone.”
The incident has sent shockwaves through the village, where residents say drug abuse is silently claiming lives.
Village Sarpanch Gurjant Singh expressed concern stating “We are trying to spread awareness and keep the youth away from drugs through the Gram Panchayat, but smugglers are operating fearlessly,” he said.
He urged the authorities to strengthen policing in rural areas and carry out sustained crackdowns against peddlers.
“We appeal to the youth — don’t fall into this trap. Drugs are destroying our future,” he said.
