JK Govt planning major offensive against Drug Menace: Property of Drug peddlers to be confiscated

Abdul Basit

Srinagar, April 13: The government has started yet another offensive against growing drug menace in the valley as the Deputy Commissioners have been activated to launch the attack to curb the menace.

This week all the Deputy Commissioner of all the districts of the Union territory convened meetings of District Level Committee of Narco Coordination (NCORD) to discuss the strategies to curb the menace including narco-terrorism.

Kupwara  being a border district and gateway to the drugs from across the border has  planned a massive offensive against drug menace and mulls to confiscate the properioty of the drug peddlers accumulated through  this illegal trade.

During the NCORD meeting Deputy Commissioner Kupwara Dr.Doifode Sagar Dattatray asked Tehsildars and Kupwara police to verify the property accumulated by drug peddlers and take steps to confiscate this property assembled with the help of drug peddling menace.  

On the occasion, the DC stressed upon the Officers of all the line Departments including Enforcement agencies to ensure better coordination in enforcing greater deterrence to combat dangerous trade of drug-trafficking.

The Deputy Commissioners have also directed  concerned Chief Medical Officers and Drug controllers to get the CCTV cameras installed in all hospitals, medical stores of towns and peripheral areas to keep an eye on the illegal trade and asked them to conduct periodic inspection of medical stores and check their license.

Alarm bells rang after Lok Sabha made startling revelations about the drug abuse.

According to Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment figures shared in the Lok Sabha nearly 10 lakh people in J&K consume various kinds of drugs. The population of J&K, according to the 2011 census, is 1.25 crore.

The figures reveal that estimate 1,08,000 males and 36,000 females were found using Cannabis in the Union Territory (UT) while as 5,34,000 males and 8,000 females were found in the dragnet of Opioids and 1,60,000 males and 8,000 females were found using sedatives of different kinds.

Similarly, 1,27,000 males and 7,000 females were noticed using inhalants and a large number of males and females were addicts of cocaine, Amphetamine-Type Stimulants (ATS) and Hallucinogens in the J&K, it added.

 

The figures has raised to the fore the threat posed to the society forcing government to re-launch the offensive against the drug menace. Several crimes reported recently increasing killing of a mother by his drug addict son has also raised alarm bells among civil society uniting the government and law enforcing agencies to fight the war for the survival of the society.

The Deputy Commissioners of all the districts directed the concerned officers to devise a comprehensive plan to reach-out to the drug affected persons for their smooth rehabilitation and recovery.

The DCs emphasised upon the concerned to upscale the therapeutic management and proper counseling of the drug addicts which can help the addicts to come out of the menace.

Stress was also laid on raising awareness  in Schools and colleges against the menace to keep the younger generation at bay from this menace.

Government said that efforts with cooperation, coordination and collaboration are vital to contain the drug peddling and break the supply chain, besides taking stringent action against the drug peddlers involved in the hazardous trade of drugs.

The DCs said in order to combat this rising societal problem, multi-pronged Rehabilitation, Counselling and Guidance policy is indispensable to be implemented on ground to monitor drug abuse and take remedial measures to curb the menace.

Meanwhile keeping in view the exponential growth of drug menace in the UT, politicians have also  joined the government efforts to  fight this menace with Apni Party  being the first political party to formally launch a campaign against drug menace.

President Apni Party Altaf Bukhari this week  started several initiatives in several districts to raise awareness including engaging party workers to launch awareness, assist law enforcing agencies to curb menace and engage youth in productive activities in sports.

Altaf Bukhari on Thursday called on people from all walks of life to unite against the ongoing drug menace in the valley and protect the young population from falling prey to this grave evil.

He emphasised that society can no longer afford to lose youngsters to drugs and urged everyone to play its role in eradicating the menace.

Bukhari made these remarks while inaugurating the first season of the ‘Kongposh Premier League – 2023’ cricket tournament in the Pampore area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

Party spokesperson said the tournament is an initiative aimed at attracting young people towards healthy and positive lifestyles and keeping them away from social evils, especially the persisting drug menace.

While talking to reporters at the event, Bukhari said, “Apni Party has decided to take a range of initiatives, including skill development training for the youth, with the aim of empowering the youngsters and protecting them from the ongoing drug abuse in J&K.”

He clarified that they are not taking these initiatives for political benefits or electoral gains; “rather, this is a sincere effort to shoulder our responsibility towards society. Given the severity of the drug menace and its impact on society,” he said, adding  that every one ought to play his/her role in eradicating this destructive evil.

Apni Party President made a promise that he would extend his assistance in rehabilitating the drug victims. He said that if anyone approaches him seeking help for the rehabilitation of an addict, he will provide support while ensuring the victim's identity remains confidential.

Bukhari urged the administration to take serious measures to nab each and every person who is responsible for the smuggling and sale of drugs in society.

 He said these criminals are playing with the lives of people, and they must face severe punishment.

Meanwhile locals have also appreciated the government for its efforts to curb the menace that has impacted or has the potential to impact every household.

“There is no reason that people should stay away from this war. It is a collective war for the survival of the society,” said Mohammad Abdullagh Paswal, a young tribal leader in Bandipora.

He said the recent incidents of crime that were never heard of in society like Kashmir was a warning for us to wake up before it is too late.

Abdullah said the youngsters will provide every support to the law enforcing agencies to ensure the menace is curbed and crushed to its roots.