FEROZEPUR: The border district of Ferozepur has been left shaken after four young men from Lakho Ke Behram village near Mamdot died due to alleged drug addiction within two days, sparking outrage and grief across the region.According to Lakho Ke Behram residents, one youth died on Tuesday, followed by three more deaths Wednesday morning, leaving the families devastated and the entire village in mourning.

Distraught, the residents questioned the effectiveness of the Punjab govt’s much-publicised “war against drugs” campaign and accused the administration of failing to curb the menace.

The victims were identified as 26-year-old Raman Singh; Umedu Singh; Rajat Singh; and Sandeep Singh.Recounting the horror of how addiction destroyed their families, Raman Singh’s father Bachitar Singh said his son had been battling drug addiction for several years. Monday morning, he was found lifeless after consuming some narcotics the previous night, he said.“Five times we admitted him to the rehabilitation centre. Only recently, he was admitted to such a centre in Malout town, but he again started taking drugs after his return,” Bachitar Singh added.21-year-old Umedu Singh, once a healthy young man, sunk so deep into drug dependency that he sold off household belongings, doors, windows, and even the trees in his courtyard to fund the habit. Poverty drove away his wife and children, leaving him alone before his untimely and tragic death.Rajat Singh’s father Sukhdev Singh broke down, saying: “My son was the backbone of our family. Drugs have snatched him away. If the police do not act strictly, more youth will meet the same fate.”Gurjit Singh, Sandeep Singh’s elder brother, alleged that drugs were being delivered “right at the doorstep” in the village. Despite this, the police and the govt failed to act, he said.Surprisingly, there are seven medical stores operating in the small village, which have been adding fuel to the fire as psychotropic drugs are freely available in these shops.Villagers alleged that drug networks had spread rapidly across the region, entrapping a growing number of youth. They demanded strict police action and accountability from the authorities, warning that many more families remain at risk if the supply chain is not dismantled immediately.Infuriated by the deaths, the villagers on Wednesday blocked the Ferozepur-Fazilka highway, placing the dead bodies on the road to protest against the administration’s failure to act against the drug peddlers and check the supply of contraband from across the border.They said the drug trade continued unabated despite a police station located on the Ferozepur-Fazilka road.Manjit Singh, superintendent of police, Ferozepur, meanwhile, said the state govt had been helping the addicts by opening de-addiction centres. Besides, the police launched a comprehensive mission to combat the drug menace, he added.The protesters raised slogans against both the govt and the police, accusing them of not taking sufficient action to address the growing drug problem. The young protesters also engaged in heated arguments with the police, alleging drug sales were taking place with police complicity.Women at the protest were particularly vocal, voicing their frustration with the police.