Raman SuriDespite relentless crackdown on drug dealers, property seizures, and tireless efforts of NGOs and de-addiction centres, the drug menace in Jammu and Kashmir continues to spiral. The gravity of the situation became evident when Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Abdul Rahim Rather, called for a debate on the issue, signalling an urgent need for action. If, despite stringent laws and enforcement measures, the youth of the Union Territory (UT) remain vulnerable to drugs, then the crisis demands immediate and decisive intervention.
Adding weight to these concerns, Jammu and Kashmir’s Director General of Police (DGP), Nalin Prabhat has also accused Pakistan’s army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of orchestrating narcotics smuggling through terror groups, pushing drugs into Indian territory. Prabhat has made a striking comparison saying that fight against drugs will be waged on the same pedestal as the fight against terrorism. His statement underscores the severity of the crisis, equating drug abuse with a national security threat.
In addition, he called for a strict crackdown on public liquor consumption in vehicles, an issue increasingly prevalent in Jammu and Kashmir. This is ground reality which he has taken note of and I am sure that a decisive action in this regard will be taken in days to come, for which neither Pakistan is to be blamed nor the scarcity of manpower. An action to curb this menace is well within the reach of Jammu and Kash.