During the regional conference on ‘Drug Trafficking and National Security’ organised in New Delhi, more than 1.40 lakh kg of narcotics worth Rs 2378 crore were destroyed in presence of the Union Home Minister Amit Shah in different parts of the country, a record for a single day. While addressing the conference, Shah said that PM Modi had set a target of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ that India and its youth should become drug-free by the time the centenary of the country’s independence is celebrated, adding that it was the aim of the Modi government to create such an India where not even a single youth was addicted to drugs and to achieve this it was necessary for the states and the Centre both to work together.
Drug trafficking and abuse is a major challenge facing the nation, Union Territory of J&K being no exception. In these columns, the menace of drug abuse and drug trafficking has been discussed umpteenth times, even to the extent of sounding repetitive, but the crisis in the society is so serious that it needs this repetitiveness. It is satisfactory to note that the government is working on the issue seriously and JK Police too has been working tirelessly to deal with the issue. It is because of these efforts that huge quantities of contraband drugs are being seized almost every day and traffickers are being apprehended. Though a lot is being written and said about the issue and the concerned government agencies are trying their best to help the addicts to overcome the menace and start their lives afresh, the menace continues to grow in size with every passing day. Fact of the matter is that drug trafficking and abuse can’t be dealt only with official machinery, few social organization and doctors alone. It needs a strong and collective response from the citizenry. People need to understand that those who grow bhang in their agricultural farms and those who pump in heroine and brown sugar into Kashmir are the worst enemies of Kashmiris. They may be earning money while doing so but that money is being earned at the cost of the health and lives of Kashmiri youth. It is high time that people wake up to this disaster in making and fight the battle against drug trafficking. Religious leaders, particularly the Imams of Masjids can play a vital role in fighting this battle. Every Friday, the Imams lead congregational prayers and give sermons about various issues. People listen to them, respect them and their word has an impact. Let these Imams talk about the menace during these sermons. Let them make people aware about the disastrous outcome of the menace. The mohalla and village elders too need to play their role. As responsible citizens they should keep an eye on their respective areas and if they find someone involved in such crimes, they should take help from law enforcing agencies to stop the crime. Kashmir’s civil society too needs to wake up and make the talk of narcotics part of public discourse. The battle has to start from every household and people have to understand that presence of drugs and drug abusers gives birth to all kinds of crimes.
As rightly pointed out by the Home Minister, until financial investigations of drug traffickers were conducted and their interest chain was broken, the campaign against drugs will not be successful. He has also asked the respective governments that the approach should be such that those who consume drugs should be considered as victims, while those who engage in the trade should be marked as culprits. While victims should be counselled and brought back on right track, the suppliers should not be spared. He pitched for harsher punishment to the traffickers that would act as a stronger deterrent.
The UT administration too needs to follow the guidelines. There are some black sheep in Police and other agencies dealing with drug menace. These elements should be isolated and dealt with under law.
