Amarinder orders probe in drugs-related deaths in Punjab
Chandigarh, July 3: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday ordered investigation into the recent spate of drug-related deaths in the state and directed that stringent action be taken against those found guilty, without considering their political affiliations.
Nearly 35 deaths have been reported in the state in the past one month itself due to drugs abuse and drugs overdose.
The probe was ordered after some social activists met the Chief Minister on Tuesday to highlight the rampant drugs abuse in the state.
Leaders of the main opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also met him in this regard here.
The probe order came just a day after the Punjab cabinet on Monday resolved to recommend, to the to the Union Government, death penalty for drug smugglers and peddlers.
Describing drug abuse as a disease requiring treatment, the Chief Minister stressed on the need for rehabilitation of the victims and for making the anti-drug campaign a people's movement.
Amarinder Singh, who had in 2016 taken a religious vow to wipe out drugs from Punjab within four weeks of coming to power has not been able to deliver on the promise through the government that he heads in Punjab since March 2017.
The opposition AAP and Shiromani Akali Dal have criticized the Congress government for failing to fulfill its promise on curbing drugs abuse in Punjab.
Drugs abuse is rampant, particularly among youth and rural population, in Punjab for the past over two decades.
The drugs racket has its nexus with powerful politicians and police officials.
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Sanju Samson ton guides India to 61-run win over South Africa
Durban, Nov 8: Sanju Samson scored a scintillating century as India inflicted a 61-run defeat on South Africa in the first T20I here on Friday.
Invited to bat, Samson blazed away to 107 off 50 balls, hitting as many as 10 sixes and seven fours to help India post 202 for 8.
The spin duo of Varun Chakaravarthy (3/25) and Ravi Bishnoi (3/28) then shared six wickets between them to bowl out South Africa for 141 in 17.5 overs.
Earlier, Samson became the first Indian to score back-to-back centuries in T20Is.
The opener notched his second T20I hundred off just 47 balls. His first had come in India's last outing against Bangladesh last month.
However, South Africa clawed their way back into the game as they stemmed the flow of runs by picking wickets in the last five overs.
Pacer Gerald Coetzee who claimed three wickets was the pick of the bowlers for the hosts.
Brief Scores:
India: 202 for 8 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 107, Tilak Verma 33; Gerald Coetzee 3/37)
South Africa: 141 all out in 17.5 overs (Heinrich Klaasen 25; Varun Chakaravarthy 3/25, Ravi Bishnoi 3/28)
