Sangrur, June 25 -- Three years ago, Sherpur village, located 35km from Sangrur town, was trapped in a dark cycle of synthetic drug abuse, earning the notorious moniker 'Chitte wala Sherpur' as expensive cars from Chandigarh and Barnala lined up to buy drugs. Today, that stigma is gone, thanks to a relentless, youth-led crusade that successfully drove out peddlers and reclaimed the village.

In August 2023, Balwinder Singh and other residents launched the Nasha Roku Committee to fight rising overdose deaths. Youth from neighbouring Khedi Chehlan and Sherpur came together, contributing funds to guard the village 24/7. Supporters fund the ongoing costs of transporting and rehabilitating addicts.

The committee's biggest challenge came from ...