Int’l Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, 760 cases registered, 1100 people held in 6 months
Srinagar: During last six months from January to June this year, the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) witnessed a significant rise in drug abuse-related cases, with 760 cases were registered, besides over 1100 drug traffickers were arrested and over 2000 kg of narcotics seized, the reports said.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the official data so far unearthed revealed that rise in drug use and abuse has shown rise and the concerned officials are seen a little concerned.
The Police and other institutions in IIOJK have making any efforts to combat the drug problem.
In operations conducted across all the districts of IIOJK the officials have claimed to have made significant arrests and seizures, a senior police officer was quoted by media as saying and adding, “The recovery of over 2000 kg of drugs underscores the scale of the narcotics trade infiltrating from across the border.”
The senior Police official said that drug abuse was becoming a major concern in IIOJK.
“The number of cases and the quantity of drugs seized indicate the seriousness of the situation,” he said and added, “We are committed to eradicating this menace and have increased our vigilance and operations to tackle the issue.”
The rise in drug abuse is particularly alarming given its devastating impact on the youth. Many youth in IIOJK are falling prey to addiction, leading to a range of social and health problems.
Families are being torn apart, and communities are witnessing an increase in crime and anti-social behavior linked to drug use. The crackdown on drug peddlers in J&K had led to the seizure of scores of properties linked to the narcotics trade.
Official findings revealed in the Indian Parliament have said that a staggering estimate of over 14.09 laky people, aged between 10 and 75, are using various psychoactive substances in J&K.
The substance abusers in IIOJK encompass a wide spectrum, ranging from cannabis to sedatives to inhalants.
The breakdown includes approximately 5.4 laky individuals abusing opioids, 4.20 lakh using alcohol, 1.4 lakh consuming cannabis, and 1.35 lakh inhaling substances. It was also revealed that nearly three out of every 100 adults in Kashmir are dependent on contraband substances, primarily opium and its derivatives.
The multidimensional factors contributing to the drug menace in the region include unemployment, the lingering impact of conflict, peer pressure, unfulfilled aspirations, parental expectations, poverty, and corruption.
