THE recent attack on a 52-year-old ex-serviceman, Jasbir Singh, of Noordi village by “drug peddlers” had sent shock waves across the state but the villagers have a different story to tell. They say that the victim had been at loggerheads with some people over an old dispute related to a village street.

Most of the villagers say that Jasbir Singh, after being attacked, tried to give the whole issue a different look.It may be recalled that after sustaining severe leg injuries, the victim had released a video clip in which he blamed the state government for the rampant drug peddling in the state. Criticising the state government, he had demanded a strict action against the errants. Later, several leaders came to meet him and had an interaction with villagers who told them the story.Besides, local residents say that drug problem is there in the region and the robust network of drug peddlers is such that they establish contact with addicts to sell intoxicants easily and even the police are not able to trace them.

The drug sellers are not even aware of the identity of the people from whom they get the contraband for sale to addicts in their respective areas. Whatever the issue is, the assault is a blot on the face of the village which is rich from the historical and cultural perspective. Earlier, the village was known as Kila Kavi Santokh Singh village, named after Maha Kavi Santokh Singh (October 8, 1787 to October 19, 1843). He has been the author of six great literary works, including Naam Kosh, Guru Nanak Parkash, Garb Ganjani Teeka and Sri Gur Partap Suraj Granth. Katha from Gur Partap Suraj Granth is performed at certain gurdwaras in the evening every day. The home where Bhai Santokh Singh was born has been converted in to a gurdwara after his name by Baba Jagtar Singh of Tarn Taran.The village was founded by a ruler, Noordeen, who ordered construction of a well-equipped sarai (inn) but the work hit a roadblock due to the shortage of Nanak Shahi Brick, another term for decorative brick used in the Mughal era. At the same time, fifth Sikh Master, Guru Arjan Dev, took up the construction of the holy sarovar on the premises of Sri Darbar Sahib in Tarn Taran where no brick shortage was there. Employees of Noordeen suggested him to bring brick from Tarn  Taran, meant for the construction of sarovar, much to the chagrin of the followers of Guru Arjan Dev.

Anti-encroachment campaign left midway

The anti-encroachment drive launched two weeks ago by the authorities concerned was left midway after an RTI activist raised questions on their functioning. The move was launched on the orders of Deputy Commissioner Pardeep Kumar Sabharwal under the leadership of Assistant Commissioner Rajnish Arora.Officials of the local Municipal Council were also involved in the drive. On the very first day of the drive, around 63 violators issued challans and a fine of Rs 29,000 was imposed on them. Shopkeepers and roadside vendors had lodged their protest, accusing the authorities of uprooting them “unncessarily”.RTI activist Heera Singh, who has been running his commercial establishment alongside the Amritsar-Ferozepur road, was fined Rs 500 for encroaching a portion of the road. He demanded information from the administration about the drive, stating that the road where the violation had been reported belonged to the Public Works Department (PWD) whereas the fine was imposed by the  Municipal Council. He sought to know if the council had the power to fine him. Since then, no official has been seen conducting the drive. A similar drive was taken up last year as well but it bore no fruit as residents showed their resentment and MLA Dr Dharambeer Agnihotri assured them that they wouldn’t be harassed. Encroachments have become a headache for the district.

Contributed by Gurbax Puri