Marari Kalan, Once United Against Drugs, Slips Back Into Illicit Trade
Marari Kalan, the village where five people recently died after consuming spurious liquor, has become infamous in recent years for its rampant drug and illicit liquor trade. Locals say that nearly every kind of narcotic substance and bootleg liquor is easily accessible in the village.
Just four years ago, Marari Kalan had taken a stand against this menace. The entire village—youth, women, panchayat members, and local police—had come together to declare the village drug-free. A unanimous resolution was passed, and a sustained anti-drug drive saw several addicts sent to de-addiction centres.
At the forefront of this campaign was Papalpreet Singh, a close aide of Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh. “We supported the campaign wholeheartedly, and for a while, the drug flow was completely stopped,” recalled Hira Singh, a young activist from the village.
But the momentum could not be sustained. Hira Singh said the campaign has since collapsed, with drug peddlers once again operating openly. “Not only are drugs and illicit liquor available, they’re being sold in broad daylight,” he said. Once-prominent boards declaring Marari Kalan a “drug-free village” have now all been removed.
The activist also blamed political divisions within the village for the deteriorating situation. “Earlier, the community was united. Now, politics has fractured us into factions, making it difficult to mount a joint effort again,” he said.
Despite the setbacks, residents like Hira Singh are determined to revive the anti-drug movement. “We want to make our village drug-free once more,” he said, calling for renewed unity and action.
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