SRINAGAR: Continuing its efforts of eradicating Narcotic crop cultivation, the Excise Department of Kashmir Division intensified its activities in the month of September under Nash Mukt J&K Abhiyan.
The department has been following a multi-pronged strategy; focussing on destruction activities in all the potential/vulnerable areas, taking stringent measures against illicit cultivators/persons involved in narcotic trade, and massive awareness generation programmes involving all stakeholders like Youth Clubs, Students, PRI members, Senior Citizens, NGO’s, religious scholars among others.
In the month-long campaign, Bhung destruction of more than 2100 Kanals of land was done in the Kashmir division, besides 12 FIRs were registered against illicit cultivators. Also, more than two Quintals of grinded Cannabis and Poppy straw was seized by the Excise officials and appropriate legal action was initiated against the accused.
The department also organised more than 150 awareness camps this month to spread the message of drugs are harmful not only to the individual who is involved in abuse but also detrimental to the family in particular and to society in general. As part of the campaign, counseling exercises were held so that victims of abuse do not fall into the trap.
Parents and teachers were counseled to maintain extra vigil and to report that if any individual tries to lure minors towards this menace, law enforcement agencies must be immediately alerted. The focus of youth was taken to positive aspects by holding Painting Competitions, Debates, Marathons, Cyclethones, and Football Matches across the division.
While Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyan was a special platform to sensitize people in the fight against drugs, the department will continue to follow a multi-dimensional campaign to eradicate the menace of substance abuse and illicit cultivation from society.
The Department has through its actions continuously endeavoured to curb the spread of this menace and has so far destroyed cannabis and poppy on more than 3900 and 645 kanals of land respectively during the current year.
