As darkness falls over Thani village on Old Mussoorie Road in Dehradun, a group of women begins an unusual night shift.

More than 30 women are taking turns patrolling roads and public spaces from around 5 pm until midnight, driven by growing concerns over the alleged drug trade and the safety of nearly 350 families in the village.

Their mission is simple: keep an eye on unfamiliar faces, protect their children and make their neighbourhood safer. The women allege that outsiders frequently enter the village at night to purchase drugs, sometimes leading to arguments and disturbances.

A Call, And The Women Mobilise

When residents spot someone they suspect has arrived to buy drugs, word quickly spreads among the women. Several of them gather at the location, question the person and ask them to leave. It is a demanding responsibility, especially alongside household duties. Yet the women say they have stepped up because they feel the problem has persisted for years.

Residents expressed concern about unknown people speeding through the area at night and alleged that school and college students are among those purchasing drugs. With the monsoon making nighttime patrols difficult, the elderly women have had to reduce their hours of vigil.

‘We Need the Police to Protect Us’

The women say they had already approached the police, following which personnel were deployed in the area for a few days. However, they allege that patrols were not regular. Now, they plan to take their concerns directly to the District Magistrate, seeking regular police patrolling, action against alleged drug traffickers and protection for the women involved in the campaign.

Some women also say they have received threats. They, however, do not want to get involved in any conflict and have asked the police to take responsibility for their safety.

Police, however, say the situation has another dimension. According to them, a dispute between two groups over access to a temple is also brewing in the village, with allegations and counter-allegations involving a nearby settlement.

Amid these tensions, the women insist their campaign against drug abuse will continue. They may have begun with night patrols, but their larger demand is clear: they want the administration to step in before drugs take a deeper toll on the village’s children and youth.