The Jammu Kashmir government as part of its initiative to crackdown on drug mafia has strictly ordered against the sale of tobacco related items within 500 metres of school or other educational institutions premises.
The move has come following the soaring number of cases of drug use among the local youths.
With the Jammu Kashmir police claiming to have brought terrorism in the Union Territory under control, it has for the current year decided to shift a substantial focus against drug mafia.
In the past few weeks several people were arrested transporting drugs during nakas and other operations.
The police and other law enforcing agencies have been checking across marketplaces if any shop is selling the tobacco within the restricted limits.
They are warned to mend their ways and the directions by the higher authorities so far being taken seriously.
The steps taken by the police are appreciated a lot among the common people who once were feeling dejected and hopeless for not taking any action against it.
The people feel relaxed and are hoping the initiatives launched by the police will be taken to the logical conclusion. The health department is equally behaving and has recently ordered the removal of advertisement promoting a tobacco brand in Srinagar city. The action was swift by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation.
The people appreciated the step. The rise in drug consumption, especially opium, is being connected to the terrorism in the valley. Police and security agencies claim that the main supplier of the drugs is Pakistan who in return uses the finances for terrorism in Kashmir.
Given the claims and some past incidents in which huge quantities of drugs were seized at cross border points, the claim seems justified.
Therefore, the matter warrants immediate attention since it turns out to be a matter of national security. This is yet again giving a huge responsibility for the police to crack down on the network and unearth its actual perpetrators.
This in the long run can help us to protect national security and channelize the energy of youth positively.
