Drug trafficking and abuse has emerged as a big challenge in Jammu and Kashmir. Despite the law enforcing agencies having waged a war against the traffickers, the notorious business is going on. On Thursday, a brother-sister duo was arrested with 550 grams of heroin worth Rs 70 lakh on the outskirts of Jammu city. Interestingly, according to police, the mother of the two accused was arrested in a drug peddling case by Punjab Police in June. Not a single day passes when media doesn’t report about arrests and seizures related to drug trafficking. The younger generation is falling prey to the abuse and the society as a whole is watching mutely. It is a serious issue and needs serious consideration and action. In these columns, we have regularly been discussing the issue and suggesting that both at administrative and societal level, the menace needs to be taken head-on. Drug abusers should be treated as victims and both the administration and society should help them overcome the addiction and ensure their rehabilitation. But those involved in trafficking should be dealt with fiercely. Of late, the law enforcing agencies have started attaching the properties of the drug dealers. It is a welcome step and will, hopefully, send a strong signal to those involved in this nefarious trade. While Police is actively involved in curbing the trade, there could be some black sheep within the system who, in certain cases, patronage this dirty trade. Such elements should be identified, named and shamed.
Coming to societal response, the drug trafficking and trade is not being discussed widely here though it has shaken the very roots of the society. While politicians and civil society groups are in a race to close down alcohol shops, none of them ever talks about drug trafficking. The war against the drug trafficking can’t be won unless both the law enforcing agencies and the society, in general, are on the same page. This war has to start from the individual families. If a child has become addicted, it is the parents who would first come to know about it. They have to counsel their children and try to find out the sources wherefrom their children get these drugs and simultaneously inform the Police. Religious heads and Imams of the mosques have to join this battle. How many of our Imams, during Friday sermons, talk about this nefarious trade? They have to. People listen to them. Their opinions influence masses so the war against drug trafficking should start from every mosque here. Instead of demonizing the drug abusers, who are victims, the war should be launched against traffickers, the white collar drug smugglers, those who grow Bhang in their farm lands. It is a war that is to be fought by one and all otherwise the society is destined to rot.
