Vikram Sharma
The abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, marked a significant constitutional, political, and administrative shift in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. This Article had granted special status to the erstwhile state, allowing it a distinct identity and autonomy over internal matters, including property rights, employment, and residency laws. While much of the focus has been on the geopolitical, developmental, and national security aspects of the move, a pressing and often under-discussed concern is its impact on the ground-level socio-economic fabric of Jammu, particularly in terms of thefts and rising drug abuse.
This article examines how the changes post-abrogation, directly or indirectly, correlate with rising crimes like thefts and increasing substance abuse, especially in the Jammu region.
Pre-Abrogation Scenario: Controlled Demographics and Localized Governance
Before Article 370 was revoked, laws in J&K restricted the purchase of land and property by non-residents. This, to a large extent, preserved the traditional demographic makeup of regions like Jammu, and allowed for a relatively stable and culturally homogenous society. Police and administrative systems, although not perfect, were localized and operated under a unique legal framework which allowed community-level interactions and a higher degree of social accountability.
Drug abuse and theft cases were present, but limited in scope and largely under local surveillance. Communities worked closely with the administration, and social stigma associated with addiction often acted as a deterrent.
Post-Abrogation Transition: Opening of Gates and Social Flux
The abrogation led to the integration of J&K into the Union framework, thereby opening avenues for national-level investment, job migration, and land acquisition. For the Jammu region, traditionally considered peaceful and development-oriented, this meant a sudden influx of laborers, traders, outsiders, and job-seekers from various states. While this is aligned with the idea of national integration, the lack of a robust monitoring mechanism has led to social challenges.
Increase in Thefts
Over the past few years, there has been a noticeable spike in property crimes, especially house break-ins, thefts of gas cylinders, motorbikes, and electronic items. The modus operandi has also evolved, with criminals now targeting unattended homes during daytime and striking in residential colonies where neighborhood watch systems are weak.
Police data indicates that a significant portion of these crimes involve individuals with no verifiable local background, making it difficult to trace offenders or verify their identities. Some of these accused are found to be migrant laborers or transient populations without proper documentation. The absence of strong tenant verification systems has further complicated the situation.
Rise in Drug Addiction and Narcotics Trade
Parallel to thefts is the alarming rise in drug abuse, particularly among the youth of Jammu. Drugs like heroin (chitta), cannabis, and pharmaceutical opioids have flooded the region. Areas like Janipur, Bakshi Nagar, Narwal and rural belts of Akhnoor and R.S. Pura have witnessed increased cases of substance abuse, arrests, and even overdose-related deaths.
Earlier, Jammu was considered a transit route for narcotics smuggled from Punjab and Kashmir. However, after 2019, the local consumption rate has drastically increased. The reasons can be manifold:
w Socio-economic stress due to rapid changes in employment and property scenarios.
w Increased availability of narcotics due to loosening local control and influx from outside.
w Peer influence among idle youth who feel displaced or disconnected from traditional structures.
Police and health officials note that addiction has permeated into lower middle-class and even school-going youth, a demographic which was previously considered relatively safe from such influence.
Administrative and Policing Challenges
The Jammu Police and allied departments have had to deal with a sudden expansion in jurisdictional complexity, with a larger and more transient population to monitor. The integration of central laws and dissolution of local policing acts initially created confusion on procedural implementation. Beat policing and community policing efforts, which were relatively effective earlier, have not been able to keep pace with the dynamic ground reality.
Further, due to overburdened resources and insufficient coordination with central enforcement agencies, many small-time drug peddlers and thieves manage to operate with impunity, especially in slum-like clusters that have emerged around urban centers.
Social Impact and Changing Community Dynamics
Another subtle but crucial impact is the changing nature of community relationships. Earlier, Jammu had tightly-knit neighborhoods where residents were deeply familiar with each other’s backgrounds and families. With increased migration and commercialization, neighborhoods have become fragmented. This loss of social capital has reduced informal checks and balances that earlier helped keep petty crime and addiction under control.
Parents, too, are struggling to cope with changing social habits of youth, many of whom are now exposed to online platforms glorifying drug use and rebellion. Combined with the lack of quality recreational spaces and career opportunities, it’s a dangerous cocktail for societal degradation.
Way Forward: Balancing Integration with Ground Reality
While the abrogation of Article 370 was a constitutional necessity aimed at ending separatism and bringing uniform development, the implementation phase in Jammu needs better socio-administrative planning.
w Tenant verification laws must be strictly implemented.
w Community policing programs should be revived with local participation.
w Drug de-addiction centres and awareness campaigns should be expanded, particularly targeting high-risk areas.
w Police stations must be equipped with better forensic and cyber tracking tools to trace and prevent organized thefts.
w Recreational and employment opportunities must be made available to vulnerable youth to steer them away from drugs.
The abrogation of Article 370 was a watershed moment in Indian history, but its aftershocks continue to be felt on the ground. In Jammu, the twin challenges of thefts and drug abuse need urgent redressal through a multi-stakeholder approach. It is essential that integration into the national framework goes hand-in-hand with preservation of local order and societal values. Only then can the people of Jammu truly reap the benefits of this historic constitutional change.
(The author is Inspector of Police)
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