Jyotirmath (Chamoli): Alarmed by the rapid rise in drug abuse and narcotics trafficking, residents and traders of Jyotirmath launched a strong protest on Friday, bringing the hill town to a standstill. As a mark of protest, all commercial establishments remained closed while hundreds of people took to the streets, demanding strict action against drug peddlers. The demonstration began at the Inter College crossing, from where protesters marched in a procession to the local police station, raising slogans against the drug trade. Upon reaching the police station, traders and residents staged a sit-in, pressing the administration to curb the growing menace that they say is destroying the town’s social fabric. Memorandum Submitted, Four Key Demands Raised Later, a delegation of traders...