4 september 2024 : A woman from an affluent family succumbed to a drug overdose in Dakoha yesterday.
The day prior to her passing, her partner, also from the same area and struggling with addiction, died as a result of drug use.
Addicted to chitta, she had liquidated all her possessions over the past two years, including two houses she owned, leaving her without a place to stay. Local residents reported that she was frequently seen lying along the roadsides in a state of intoxication.
Her body was discovered at a local durgah yesterday. A group of men from the village, including AAP leader Balbir Singh Bittu, conducted her last rites, as there were no family members available to oversee her funeral.
Bittu remarked, “She lost her mother approximately 15 years ago and had been living with her maternal grandfather, who also passed away. Her sister died under mysterious circumstances, and her maternal aunt succumbed to severe depression. She was left alone and fell into detrimental company.”
Her neighbors noted that she had never been academically inclined. “She only completed her schooling, despite her financial stability, and showed no interest in pursuing a career. We often saw her riding her scooter with a cigarette in hand. We heard she sold her scooter, and shortly thereafter, she sold the gate of her house. She even demolished part of her home to sell the bricks. Ultimately, she sold the house she resided in, all to fund her daily drug habit,” stated a local realtor.
Shopkeepers in the vicinity mentioned that she had outstanding debts, as she would purchase items without making payments. Alarmingly, she and her partner resorted to petty thefts to acquire substances.
When inquired about why she was not taken to a rehabilitation center, her neighbors explained, “She was admitted to a de-addiction facility in Kapurthala, completed her treatment, but unfortunately experienced a relapse.”
She got hooked soon after. She had become so frail and the prick injuries due to frequent use of syringes had become so obvious on her arms and legs. We could sense that her end was near. A self-ruined girl went away too soon”.