25-yr-old dies of suspected drug overdose in Gurdaspur village
Rohit Gupta
Gurdaspur (Punjab), August 29, 2026: A 25-year-old man allegedly died of a drug overdose in Budha Bala village under Bhaini Mian Khan police station in Gurdaspur district, with the incident once again highlighting concerns over drug abuse in the area.
The deceased has been identified as Bachittar Singh, son of Swaran Singh. According to his father, Bachittar consumed an overdose of drugs around 8-9 am, following which his condition deteriorated and he died.
Following the incident, local residents and village representatives expressed anger over the alleged continued availability of drugs in the area.
Among those who raised concerns were Budha Bala Sarpanch Mukhtiar Singh, Numbardar Dalip Singh Noon Barkat, Munnan village Sarpanch Narinder Singh and Majha Kisan Sangharsh Committee Youth President Sarabjit Singh Aulakh.
The local representatives alleged that Budha Bala village has emerged as a major hub for the supply of drugs in the region. They claimed that a deadly chemical substance, locally referred to as ‘chitta’, is allegedly being sold at low prices, attracting youths from nearby and distant areas.
The representatives said that efforts had previously been made at the village level to curb drug abuse. Panchayats had passed resolutions, residents were administered oaths against drugs and night-time thikri pehra (community patrols) were also conducted.
However, they alleged that drug suppliers continue to operate using sugarcane fields and secluded routes to evade detection.
The local representatives also criticised the police administration, alleging that despite repeated information about alleged major drug suppliers, effective action had not been taken against them. They further alleged that police action was largely limited to apprehending small-time offenders and registering cases under relatively minor sections, after which such accused allegedly secured bail soon after their arrest.
They warned that failure to take action against alleged major drug peddlers could result in more young people falling victim to substance abuse.
The representatives also appealed to panchayats across villages in the area to come together and launch a united effort against drug abuse.
ASI Tirath Ram, the investigating officer who reached the spot, said the body had been taken into police custody and sent to the Government Hospital in Gurdaspur for a postmortem examination.
According to the police, the deceased was addicted to drugs and his death was suspected to have resulted from an overdose. The police officer said further action would be taken according to law.