Locals in Haldwani take charge against drug dealer

Annoyed over police's reckless attitude to check the drug menace in Haldwani district of Uttrakhand, the locals took the matter into their own hands and have started catching the peddlers who supply drugs to the youth of the district.

Haldwani: Villages of Haldwani district in Uttarakhand are up in arms against the increasing menace of drug abuse in the region. The dealers and smugglers of 'smack'- an illegal form of a strong opioid drug, are now facing the rage of local residents.

Despite the police's efforts, the drug was flowing into the district of Haldwani.

When the anti-drug drive by the police failed to generate results, the local residents have taken the matter into their own hands.

Smack, also called as the black tar heroin, is an opioid drug which is readily available in the district. Along with it, illegal liquor also adds to the growing problem of substance abuse in the area.

In the present scenario, the residents have formed groups of 10-20 to catch drug peddlers, who supply the drugs to the youth of the district.

However, the district police have denied any such occurrences. SP City Amit Srivastava said the police are tracking down on the drug peddlers and action is being taken against addicts.

"If the residents give us information, we act based on the tip-off," Srivastava claimed.

"However, if they decide to take law in their own hand, action will be taken. No such cases have come to our notice," he reckoned.