Unfortunately, J&K is on the map of drug infested states in the country. There was a time when ours was absolutely drugs free state. People did not even know that there were substances called narcotics like opium or poppy. Of course, a handful of people did know about opium but their number was negligible.
Times have changed. Life has changed. Mobility among people increased and means of earning fast money also increased. In our neighbourhood meaning Afghanistan, poppy cultivation is open and after the rise of Taliban, it became most sought after trade because production of drugs and their sale in Western markets earned the Afghans a windfall. Taliban gave great impetus to poppy cultivation and in due course of time Afghanistan became world’s greatest drug producing and exporting country. With the help of chemical experts refined drugs like heroin and cocaine are produced that have great concentration. Drug business spread out to Pakistan and to India also. The drug nexus is so widespread that it can transcend borders and all obstructions.
The fact is that with the onset of insurgency in the State, the militants going and coming across the border clandestinely began to carry drugs with them for personal use as well as for trafficking. Since only youth are involved in armed insurgency, they found easy access to drugs through their handlers. In this way drugs become easily available to the militant chapters. But apart from that, there are drug mafia also who have networks across the LoC and the International Border. Reports suggest that cross border drug mafia had a role in the Pathankot air base attack by Pakistani fidayeen. They are said to have used the same route for infiltration which is used by the drug traffickers.
According to the statement of the Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj given on the floor of the Legislative Assembly, there is 24 per cent increase in drug addiction cases since 2014. This is very disappointing situation and although the State has an elaborate system of controlling and eliminating the menace of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, the menace is unrelenting. The State has established four de-addiction centres in Jammu, Srinagar, Anantnag and Baramulla and all of these are reported to be functional. In terms of legislation, we have the laws meant to seize and prosecute persons indulging in drug trafficking. The Minister informed the House that 400 cases of sale and supply of narcotics of different types were reported in the year 2014. In 2015, 557 persons were prosecuted in connection with drug involvement and 6 persons were convicted.
Drugs and Psychotropic substances are usually consumed by the youth of the State. Despite necessary action by the law enforcing agencies, and despite the effort of public awareness by the concerned agencies, we find that the percentage of drug addiction is on increase. This is a matter of grave concern.
We would suggest that effective counselling and awareness propaganda should be undertaken at the level of schools and colleges and other technical institutes. It is desirable to make documentaries on the dangers of drug addiction and screen these in schools and colleges regularly. It is important to hold counselling sessions for the parents so that they can keep an eye on their wards. The anti-narcotic police needs to be given professional training of very high class of how to deal with narcotic addicts with patience, sensibility and without use of threat or intimidation. It is a human problem and has to be dealt with in a human way. At the same time anti-drug police have to be very strict with drug traffickers. The Police have to be highly efficient in gathering evidence against the drug traffickers so that they cannot find any way of escaping the rigours of the law. The rate of drug addiction must come down in any case.
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