Jalandhar, March 9: The Mehatpur region faces escalating tension following the death of a teenage athlete on Saturday, just one day after the death of a village sarpanch sparked a mass protest against local drug peddling. Vansh, a 19-year-old former kabaddi champion, was found deceased on a roadside near Udhowal village, three kilometers from his residence.
Pertinently, state govt has left no stone unturned against drug peddling network and social activists say a youth can save its life from drugs only if he or she wants.
The teenager’s courtyard in Udhowal now serves as a somber gallery of his past successes, filled with trophies from his school and college competitions. Villagers affirmed that the young man had reached the state level in kabaddi before his life took a downward turn following his graduation.
“His is not the first drug death,” maintained Manpreet Singh, a local official and neighbor. Singh declared that the community has witnessed several similar tragedies recently, including the death of another youth, Jasdeep Singh Jassa, last month. He asserted that residents had previously intervened to save another local boy, Lovedeep, while he was consuming substances.
The grief in Udhowal is mirrored by anger in nearby Boote Dian Channan. Families have maintained a dharna outside the Mehatpur police station since Friday, demanding the arrest of individuals they believe are responsible for distributing illegal substances in the area.
Gurdev Singh, whose father died on Friday, asserted that the protest is a stand against the loss of young lives. “For the past two days, we are on a dharna,” he stated. “It will continue until we get justice. The police have arrested three persons, but the kingpin walks free.”
Police officials noted that while arrests have been made in connection with the sarpanch’s case, the investigation into the athlete’s death remains active. SHO Pankaj Kumar stated that the department is working to determine the exact cause of Vansh’s death and whether it is linked to the broader drug issues reported by the community.
The local administration has expressed its commitment to addressing the concerns of the villagers while the investigation continues. Villagers, however, maintained that the loss of a promising athlete like Vansh is a stark reminder of the urgent need for intervention.
