Following the campaign of Jammu Kashmir police to track down all those involved in drugs and narcotics smuggling, the issue is gradually picking up the public interest and now the political parties and leaders of the Union Territory demand the end of menace.
In the last two days, patron of National Conference Dr Farooq Abdullah and his son and former chief minister Omar Abdullah spoke on the issue and termed the situation worrisome. The drugs which is being peddled mostly from across the border has been through the places in mainland and elsewhere in the country in the last three decades of conflict.
Since the militancy has come down and the focus has shifted of police towards the issue, the problem is surfacing as most dangerous and imminent threat to our society especially youth. The issue needs to be tackled with iron fist though the job of police over the past few months seems commendable.
It is equally observed that drugs are flowing this side from the border areas connecting Line of Control with Pakistan and intelligence agencies are warning that it has international connections via Afghanistan as an illicit global trade.
If the normalcy should be envisaged in Kashmir as a permanent feature, it is must to tap and close all the routes. Majority of peddlers have been arrested from Uri and Kupwara which shares it’s boundaries with Muzaffarabbad which indicates their handlers are across the border.
But the point is how they communicate and receive the parcels amidst the heavy security presence in these areas. The government shall take it as a primary responsibility and take all initiatives it can to stop flowing of drugs in Kashmir that has consumed our youth.
The official estimates suggest that six lakhs youth in Jammu and Kashmir are addicted with drugs which is a worrisome data. Hospitals and rehabilitation centres also needs to be established in all districts since the problem needs a solution on war footing basis.
At the same time all political parties must unite in the cause and aware people in their political rallies regarding the issue since they are potential crowd pullers. Together we can save Kashmir and save youth.
