Over 26000 kgs narcotics, 4.58 lakh intoxicants seized in J&K
*Proposal for NDPSA courts needs prompt approval
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Jan 5: Jammu, Samba, Kathua and Udhampur districts in this region and Anantnag and Srinagar in Kashmir valley have turned into hotbed of drug abuse while as over 26,000 kilograms of narcotics and more than 4.58 lakh intoxicants of different types were sized by various wings of Jammu and Kashmir Police during the year 2020. In view of the alarming situation, the proposal for creation of exclusive courts to deal with cases registered under Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPSA) is required to be cleared by all the concerned departments of the Government at the earliest.
As per the official data, the copy of which is available with EXCELSIOR, a total of 1222 cases were registered under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in the year 2020. Of these, 573 cases were registered in Jammu zone and 634 in Kashmir zone of Jammu and Kashmir Police. Similarly, certain cases were registered by General Railways Police and Crime Branch.
Out of 573 cases registered in Jammu region, maximum 197 were lodged in Jammu district followed by 89 in Udhampur and 61 each in Kathua and Ramban districts. This clearly establishes that these districts have become hotbed of drug abuse in Jammu region. As far as other districts are concerned, 43 cases were registered in Samba, 32 in Rajouri, 24 in Poonch, 57 in Reasi, 7 in Doda and 2 in Kishtwar.
Likewise, out of the total 634 cases in Kashmir region, maximum 100 were registered in Anantnag district followed by 92 in Srinagar district and 56 in Awantipora as such Anantnag and Srinagar have become den of activities of those indulging in narcotics trade. A total of 44 cases were registered in Kulgam, 37 each in Pulwama and Shopian, 52 in Budgam, 25 in Ganderbal, 55 in Baramulla, 23 in Bandipora, 44 in Kupwara, 31 in Handwara and 38 in Sopore.
As per the data, over 26,000 kilograms of drugs were also seized by the Jammu and Kashmir Police during the year 2020 in all the 20 districts of the Union Territory. The seizure includes 633.017 kilograms of charas, 1479.15 kilograms of fukki, 22361.22 kilograms of poppy straw, 30.76 kilograms of brown sugar, 128.57 kilograms of heroin, 1.53 kilograms of opium, 1407.44 kilograms of Bhang and 21.37 kilograms of Ganja.
The official figures further reveal growing use of intoxicants among the people particularly youngsters that too mostly in the districts of Jammu, Samba, Kathua and Udhampur in Jammu region and Srinagar and Budgam in Kashmir valley.
A total of 4.58 lakh intoxicants which include capsules, tablets and syrup bottles were seized by the Police from all the districts of the Union Territory during the year 2020. The break-up of the data reveals that 251717 intoxicants (tablets and syrup bottles) were recovered in Kathua district, 45020 intoxicants in Samba and 37522 in Jammu district.
As far as other districts of Jammu region are concerned, 2500 intoxicants were seized in Rajouri, 430 in Poonch, 105 in Udhampur, 13925 in Reasi, 3536 in Ramban and 249 in Kishtwar.
In Kashmir valley, the highest 40507 intoxicants were seized in Srinagar followed by 18241 in Budgam and 4809 in Shopian. Among the other districts, 4681 intoxicants were seized in Anantnag, 222 in Kulgam, 282 in Pulwama, 471 in Awantipora, 1450 in Ganderbal, 1686 in Baramulla, 55 in Kupwara, 3080 in Sopore and 2896 in Bandipora.
In view of the alarming situation, the proposal for creation of exclusive courts to deal with cases registered under Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPSA) is required to be cleared by all the concerned departments of the Government as early as possible, sources said, adding “the early disposal of cases strictly on the basis of professional investigation can go a long way in discouraging those thriving at the cost of health and future of youngsters”.
“Not only this, the civil society is required to come forward in large number and start organizing awareness programmes so as to ensure that more youngsters don’t fall prey to the designs of the drug cartel”, they stressed.
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