SRINAGAR: Intensifying its activities under the month-long ‘Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyan’ campaign in September, the Excise Department Kashmir has destroyed Bhung on more than 2100 Kanals of land, and 12 FIRs were registered against illicit cultivators.
Further more-than two quintals of grinded Cannabis and Poppy straw were seized and appropriate legal action was initiated against the accused.
The action to eradicate the Narcotic crop cultivation and its trade was taken by adopting a multi-pronged strategy viz. focusing 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 (Youth Clubs, Students, PRI member’s, Senior Citizens, NGO’s, religious Scholars, etc).
More than 150 awareness camps were carried out by the department in the said month to spread the message that drugs are harmful not only to the individual who is involved in abuse but are 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/cyclothons, 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 so far destroyed cannabis and poppy on more than 3900 and 645 kanals of land respectively during the current fiscal.
