Raman Suri
Despite relentless crackdown on drug dealers, property seizures, and tireless efforts of NGOs and de-addiction centres, the drug menace in Jammu and Kashmir continues to spiral. The gravity of the situation became evident when Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Abdul Rahim Rather, called for a debate on the issue, signalling an urgent need for action. If, despite stringent laws and enforcement measures, the youth of the Union Territory (UT) remain vulnerable to drugs, then the crisis demands immediate and decisive intervention.
Adding weight to these concerns, Jammu and Kashmir’s Director General of Police (DGP), Nalin Prabhat has also accused Pakistan’s army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of orchestrating narcotics smuggling through terror groups, pushing drugs into Indian territory. Prabhat has made a striking comparison saying that fight against drugs will be waged on the same pedestal as the fight against terrorism. His statement underscores the severity of the crisis, equating drug abuse with a national security threat.
In addition, he called for a strict crackdown on public liquor consumption in vehicles, an issue increasingly prevalent in Jammu and Kashmir. This is ground reality which he has taken note of and I am sure that a decisive action in this regard will be taken in days to come, for which neither Pakistan is to be blamed nor the scarcity of manpower. An action to curb this menace is well within the reach of Jammu and Kashmir police as all vulnerable points in the city and its outskirts are known to the them which serve as safe havens for those who booze in public places.
The urgency of the situation is further highlighted by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, who recently chaired a high-level meeting to strategize an extensive information and education campaign on drug abuse prevention. With the Legislative Assembly, law enforcement agencies, and district administration united in their resolve, the need for a firm and uncompromising stance against this growing menace has never been clearer. This establishes that drug abuse has reached an alarming stage where every official and legislator besides common people, who are actually suffering, know that it’s time to act tough.
While property confiscations, arrests, border checks, and vehicle frisking have yielded some results, the persistence of the drug trade suggests that a more aggressive approach is needed. Authorities must go beyond surface-level crackdowns to dismantle the entire supply chain-targeting suppliers, traffickers, hoarders, peddlers, and the financiers who sustain this illicit network. The government’s efforts, including police actions and legislative debates, must not remain mere formalities; instead, they should mark the beginning of a decisive war on drugs to safeguard the lives of future generations.
The grim reality is that many school and college students have fallen victim to drug overdoses, despite hundreds of peddlers been arrested and their properties seized. These measures alone have not been sufficient to eliminate the menace. A fluctuating number of addicts in the de-addiction centres should not be mistaken as an indicator of success in combating drug abuse. The situation is so alarming that recently in Bari Brahmana, the drug peddlers also pelted stones on the police team which had gone to arrest them. The efforts of police are laudable but the actions of smugglers are alarming as they dared to confront police and, in many cases, it has been reported that they even had dared to shoot at police personnel. This means a decisive war is required to be launched against drug peddlers.
Notably, it was revealed in the Assembly that around 25,402 drug addicts have sought treatment at various centres in Jammu and Kashmir over the past three years-9,775 in 2022, 8,702 in 2023, and 6,925 in 2024. While the out-patient (OPD) drug addiction cases have shown a declining trend, the in-patient (IPD) cases have significantly increased due to the expansion of in-patient services. This reflects improved access to treatment but also highlights the deep-rooted nature of the crisis.
Since these statistics continue to fluctuate and can’t become basis of asserting that illegal drug supplies or consumptions have reduced, what is truly needed is a decisive and final crackdown on drug suppliers to deter them from engaging in this illicit trade. While the efforts of the government and certain NGOs are commendable, they have often been reduced to mere symbolic gestures. It is imperative to go beyond rhetoric and take concrete action until we are able to save our next generation from falling a prey to drug menace.
Amid the growing concern, political voices from across the spectrum have demanded urgent accountability. Several legislators, in one voice, have raised tough questions in the Assembly, challenging the government’s handling of the crisis. While initiatives like ‘Nasha Mukt Abhiyan,’ de-addiction centres, Addiction Treatment Facilities, OPD services in Government Medical Colleges (GMCs), the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) training programs, the National Tele Mental Health Programme (NTMHP), Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyaan, and ‘Project Najaath’ have played a crucial role in addressing drug addiction, they must be supported with stronger enforcement and a zero-tolerance policy against traffickers and enablers.
The battle against drugs cannot be fought through isolated efforts-it requires an integrated, multi-pronged strategy involving law enforcement, public awareness, education, and rehabilitation. The discussions in the Legislative Assembly must translate into resolute action, ensuring that Jammu and Kashmir does not become a haven for drug trafficking, but a model for resilience and recovery. The time for half-measures is now over. J&K needs an all-out war on drugs.
In a series of operations against drug peddlers and smugglers, the Jammu and Kashmir Police, along with the local administration, have intensified their crackdown in the entire UT. In Udhampur, the police seized a luxury car belonging to notorious drug peddler, in Srinagar, the police arrested four drug peddlers and recovered contraband substances and at Zawoora Crossing, two chronic drug peddlers were arrested while traveling in a vehicle.
In some cases, J&K Police took decisive action by attaching the property of drug confiscated under Section 68F of the NDPS Act, with confirmation from the competent authority, SAFEMA (Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators-Forfeiture of Property Act), New Delhi.
While these arrests and seizures set examples for drug peddlers that they won’t be spared, what is truly needed is a multi-layered approach involving citizen committees to monitor society and act proactively, student committees to identify and report peers involved in drug consumption or distribution, and parental guidance through constant counselling and regular monitoring. Additionally, the implementation of a stringent anti-drug law with severe penalties could serve as a strong deterrent, making drug dealers, consumers, and their entire network think twice before engaging in this menace.
We must act now to protect our children and future generations, who are already grappling with excessive screen time, declining physical activity, academic pressure, and emotional toll of fractured families-factors that are severely impacting their well-being. Now is the time to wake up. Jammu and Kashmir must take charge before it is too late. The solutions are within our reach; we just need the collective will to mend the path and secure a healthier future for our youth.
(The writer is Bharatiya Janata Party J&K Executive Member )
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