Bivek Mathur
JAMMU, Apr 6: In the heart-wrenching words of Babli Devi, a sixty-something woman residing in a single-room dwelling at Krishna Nagar, Jammu, near the Resham Ghar Colony area, the agony of losing her son young Rajan to drugs is palpable.
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She lamented, “”Ek Jawan Puttare Di Nashe Kanne Maut Da Dokh Shada Odi Buddhi Maa Ge Samjhi Sakdi…..Aaj Jalle Afte-Afte Tak Saade Kare Di Aate Aali Peti Khali Roundi Ye Na Os Velle Main Drugs Gi Bhi Pitni, Drugs Laine Aale’n Gi Bhi, Drugs Bechne Aale’n Gi Bhi, Te Police Aale’n Gi Bhi Pittni (only a mother can understand the pain of losing a young son to the clutches of drugs… Today, when I find empty flour containers for weeks at my home, I curse not only the drugs themselves but also those who consume or sell them, and even the police.”
Babli’s husband, Mohinder, died a natural death some two decades ago, leaving her to care for her son Rajan.
Tragically, Rajan’s untimely demise reportedly due to drugs in May 2020 left behind his young son Piyush, now 12, who resides with his grandmother in their modest one-room dwelling in Krishna Nagar.
Babli, taking on various household chores, like house cleaning, washing, and cooking in the houses of her well-to-do neighbours, ensures her sustenance, while Piyush receives education at a nearby Government school, where his uniform and annual fees are covered by the teachers to guarantee his uninterrupted learning journey.
Just a stone’s throw away from Babli’s residence lives Chaino Ram, around 62 years old, who shares a similar tale of grief.
His only son Ajay alias Tissu succumbed to a drug overdose on November 26, 2023. A month before his death, Ajay’s fever escalated into jaundice, leading to his hospitalization, where doctors attributed his demise to a drug overdose, according to Chaino Ram.
Ajay’s mother, Sunita Devi, lacks formal education and struggles to grasp the word “drugs.” However, when questioned about her son’s demise in Dogri language, her response remains consistent: “O Nashe Kardaha (he was a drug addict).”
Tragically, Babli and Chaino Devi are not alone in their suffering. Almost 6-7 young men, aged between 22 and 35, have lost their lives reportedly to drug overdose in their locality within one year.
While some parents acknowledge the cause of their wards’ deaths, others remain hesitant to confront the harsh reality, preferring to attribute the losses to natural causes such as heart attacks.
One among them is Pawan Sharma, who, after losing his son Pankaj Sharma to a drug overdose on March 2, 2024, has transformed into a social activist, advocating against drug abuse.
Pawan openly acknowledges his son’s demise as a result of drug overdose. He alleges that a local woman and her son-in-law are openly peddling drugs to the youth, yet remain unpunished by the police.
Despite filing complaints with SSP Jammu, Dr Vinod Kumar himself, Pawan claims no action has been taken against the culprits, as they continue to evade the police.
However, in response, the Jammu and Kashmir Police claimed they have intensified efforts to curb drug peddling, resorting to stringent measures such as attaching the properties of peddlers and booking them under the stringent PSA and PIT NDPS Act.
SSP Jammu, Dr Vinod Kumar, himself assured thorough investigations into all the cases of deaths related to drugs at Krishna Nagar locality, with a commitment to apprehend all the accused peddlers.
He said that police are awaiting the post-mortem reports to conclusively determine the cause of death in these cases.
“The police are working tirelessly to give a strong blow to the drug trade,” he said.
Meanwhile, the SSP Jammu urged upon the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities promptly to the police.
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