JAMMU: “The entire world knows that our neighbour, a major patron of terrorism smuggling drugs into Jammu and Kashmir. Drug trafficking and terror funding are no longer separate issues, they are two hands of the same enemy. We must remember that when we fight against drugs, we are also fighting against terror. When we protect our youth, we protect our nation,” Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said in Budgam on May 5.
There have been many instances over the last few years of drugs being dropped close of International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC) by drones. Several of these consignments were seized by the security forces, mainly police, and many people involved in the drug trade have also been arrested.
Reminding the people that Nasha Mukt J&K campaign was launched in Jammu on April 11, Sinha said that no enemy, no matter how adept in hatching conspiracies, can stand before a united society.
“I believe that every young person lost to addiction is a loss of strength for our future workforce, and a lost soldier for our police and army. Every family broken by addiction is a crack in the foundation of our society,” he said.
“I have directed every police station in the Kashmir Valley to gather full information on active drug smugglers in their jurisdiction and take decisive action within 30 days. We are monitoring every financial transaction of drug cartels, and action will be ensured not just against small-time peddlers but against major smugglers. The palaces built with drug money will be razed to the ground,” Sinha said.
Incidentally, in Anantnag district alone, over 100 FIRs have been filed in a month. According to SSP Amod, over 90 persons have been booked under NDPS Act, besides effecting a seizure of 250 kg of contraband substances. To break the supply chain, at least 18 properties built by encroaching on government land have been demolished.
In the neighbouring Kulgam, the police dismantled a major drug network by arresting three accused, including a key kingpin identified as Sadiq Hussain alias Showki from Vijaypur, Samba. Such actions against drug mafia are being taken in other districts also all over the Union Territory (UT) of J&K.
Sinha assured the people of Budgam that every arm of administration would act with resolve and unity to confront the issue and ensure that the threat is effectively eliminated. He appealed to every family, social organizations, spiritual and political leaders in Budgam to intensify this campaign.
Wherever possible, be it a village or a town, informal ‘Parents Brigade’ needs to be constituted, Mr Sinha said. The aim is to create a voluntary network of parents, women and youth who will be trained and empowered to identify early signs of drug use in villages or wards, and to immediately connect families with resources.
Urging the entire Budgam district to stand up united against the poison of drugs, the LG said: “I believe that every young person lost to addiction is a loss of strength for our future workforce, and a lost soldier for our police and army. Every family broken by addiction is a crack in the foundation of our society.”
In this war against drugs, society must accept the truth that many boys and girls are in the grip of narcotics. He said there is no harm in accepting this, as they are our own misguided children. They are victims, not criminals, and they need our embrace, compassion and care, he stressed
“Furthermore, the public must eliminate the stigma, so that families do not suffer silently and raise their voices,” he said.
Treating drug addiction as just a health issue doesn’t help as it is a major crisis for national security. Drugs not only hollow out the aspirations of our youth and damage their self-confidence, but also used for funding terrorism and radicalisation, he said. Every citizen must participate actively in the awareness campaign and become the eyes and ears of the police and administration, he added.
“If you see any suspicious activity in any corner of Budgam, report it immediately. With your cooperation, it will be ensured that no drug peddler can remain around any village, neighbourhood, or college in Budgam. Our agencies have identified most drug peddlers, and they are coming after you,’’ he concluded.
