Early Times Report
JAMMU, Apr 14: With the aim of making Jammu and Kashmir a drug-free region during the 100-day Nasha Mukt Abhiyan, the UT Police, in coordination with other security agencies, have launched a major crackdown on the drug mafia, especially in the border districts, to dismantle supply chains and prevent the further transportation of narcotics across the region.
Spearheading a decisive battle against the drug menace, the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on April 11, launched the historic mass movement for a “Drug-Free Jammu Kashmir” from Maulana Azad Stadium.
Sinha flagged-off Padyatra and joined the public representatives, senior officials and thousands of citizens in the walkathon from M A Stadium to Parade Ground, marking the beginning of 100-days intensive campaign under ‘Nasha Mukt Jammu-Kashmir Abhiyaan’.
Deputy Inspector General of Police, Jammu-Samba-Kathua Range, Shridhar Patil, said, “we have decided to put our best efforts in this direction so that no habitual drug peddler and smuggler can be spared.”
Notably, Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts share an international boundary with neighbouring Pakistan.
“We are after breaking the supply chain to curb the smuggling and transportation of drugs across the region,” DIG Patil said.
He said. “receivers, conduits and users-all are under scanner,” adding, he said, “with police, other stakeholders are also jointly working to achieve the 100 days target of putting their best efforts to make J&K drug free region.”
“We are identifying the consumers to reach the supplier and the mafia further,” he said and added that the local conduits active along the border belts, are on radar.
On first time and habitual offenders, the top cop said, “counselling, rehabilitation is the key to bring first timers back to the mainstream society and if required, can be sent to the rehabilitation centres but no lenient approach for the smugglers and those involved in the trade.”
“The Nasha Mukt Abhiyaan is aimed at curbing substance abuse and dismantling supply chains would lead to a series of coordinated operations targeting both local peddlers and cross-border suppliers,” he stated.
“Law enforcement agencies are working with renewed focus and coordination to eliminate the drug menace. We have adopted a zero-tolerance approach against drug mafia and their support systems,” said Patil adding, “Special teams have been constituted to identify and dismantle networks operating in border areas.”
Deputy Inspector General of Police, Rajouri-Poonch (located close to the Line of Control), Range, Sandeep Wazir said, “directions are issued to all the police stations to take stern action against the drug traders and those into the trade, directly or indirectly, must not be spared.”
“Focus being laid on keeping check on drug smuggling, transportation and consumers by special teams, heightened nakkas and required actions being initiated swiftly to curb the menace,” said DIG Wazir.
He said that involvement of civilians acting as ‘ear and nose’ to the police have also increased manifold since the launch of 100-day of Nasha Mukt Abhiyaan, adding, he said, “people have assured all help and cooperation in the fight against the menace.”
The DIG said the police along with all other stakeholders are laying stress on key areas including action against smugglers, habitual consumers, suppliers, adding, “simultaneously, awareness, rehabilitation and counselling are also being taken into consideration to protect our youth from falling into the trap of nefarious designs of the anti-social and anti-national elements.”
Meanwhile, Chairman Team Jammu, Zorawar Singh Jamwal said, “Strict police action is the need of the hour. We cannot accept J&K to become ‘Udta Punjab’ and it is high time to raise a collective voice against drug abuse.”
Team Jammu is an independent organization that has aggressively raised its voice and launched a massive campaign against drug abuse since 2014 in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The hotspots of drugs in the areas close to the India-Pakistan border need a major and result oriented crackdown, so that the mission launched by the administration, shall be fulfilled and J&K becomes drug free,” he added.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor has already given a clarion call to make Jammu Kashmir free from the scourge of drugs.
In his address after the launch of ‘Nasha Mukt Abhiyan;, Sinha had said that the next three months are pivotal, with the campaign advancing in six clear phases- Awareness intensive drives, youth focused events, community engagement, strict enforcement, rehabilitation and evaluation.
“We will move forward with the whole government approach to rid J&K of drug menace,” the Lieutenant Governor had said.
“Drug-free J&K campaign demands not just sympathy but collective action because it is not an individual plight but a collective crisis, not one family’s tragedy but a challenge to us all. Together, with unwavering resolve, we will fight and defeat the scourge of drug abuse,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
Sinha also said, “Our neighbour is using cross-border smuggling to poison our communities and undermine our nation’s future. Every officer carries one obligation: this must stop. The full force of the law is now directed at smugglers. Their networks will be dismantled without delay.”
In a stern warning, the Lieutenant Governor stated that Drug Smugglers’ assets will be seized, ringleaders prosecuted, and punishment will be delivered swiftly.
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