Killer ‘Chitta’

In a serene village located near the Sutlej River in Ludhiana, the devastating consequences of drug addiction have cast a dark shadow over the community. On March 19, 2018, the villagers mourned the loss of yet another life to addiction. The 25-year-old youth, plagued by his dependency on Chitta (a synthetic drug/heroin), resorted to sharing syringes, resulting in the contraction of Hepatitis C and AIDS.

The parents of the young man, who remained unmarried, made every effort to rescue their son from the clutches of addiction. Unfortunately, his health deteriorated significantly, with partial paralysis and severe liver damage. Reflecting on their son's tragic journey, his father lamented, "Last year, we sent him to Dubai to work, but he was rejected by the company after testing positive for Hepatitis C. He returned the day before Dussehra."

Despite being a skilled carpenter, their son squandered his earnings on drugs. Upon returning from Dubai, he sought treatment for Hepatitis C at two different de-addiction centers in Ludhiana, only to relapse each time. Eventually, he was also diagnosed as HIV positive, compounding the family's anguish. Recalling the painful days leading to his son's demise, the distraught father revealed that even in the face of a 105°F fever, his son insisted on obtaining Chitta.

Tragedy Strikes Another Family:

In a neighboring village, a similar tale of despair unfolded when a 32-year-old addict succumbed to his addiction in December 2017, leaving behind a wife and a son. The father-in-law recounted, "My son-in-law sold his 1.5 'Kila' agricultural land to sustain his heroin habit, which began with sedative pills. In his final year, he resorted to injecting heroin, causing severe damage to his kidneys and liver due to multiple complications, including Hepatitis C. Although he is no longer with us, the presence of drugs still looms large in the lives of other young men."

A Village Under Siege:

In May 2016, a small village nestled on the banks of the river Sutlej in district Ludhiana experienced a profound metamorphosis as it transformed into a fortified police camp. This drastic measure was prompted by the pervasive and distressing escalation of Chitta, an exceedingly perilous drug, within the village. Disturbing reports suggested that 90 percent of the houses in the village were allegedly involved in the smuggling of this deadly drug. As the villagers mourned the loss of their loved ones, remnants of drug paraphernalia such as spoons, syringes, and lighters were found scattered across the village fields. During the Bhog ceremony of a deceased young man, believed to have fallen victim to drugs, the villagers gather in somber silence, unwilling to openly discuss the cause of his death.

The Struggle Continues:

Despite numerous lives lost to Chitta, the availability of drugs in the market persists, painting a grim picture of the situation. The successive governments have failed to effectively eradicate this epidemic in the state, allowing drug smugglers to operate with impunity, and instilling fear and hopelessness among the villagers.