The drug menace in Jammu and Kashmir has reached an alarming tipping point. What was once a creeping concern has now exploded into a full-blown crisis, earning the region the unfortunate distinction of being the “Udta J&K” after Punjab. With lakhs of reported drug addicts, the social, economic, and cultural fabric of society is being shredded at a frightening pace. Minister SakeenaItoo’s candid admission that “raids and arrests are not helping curb the menace” reflects a hard truth: the response so far has failed to address the core of the problem. Despite frequent police raids, arrests, and even the demolition of properties belonging to notorious peddlers, the drug trade in the UT continues to thrive. It’s no longer an invisible undercurrent-it has permeated every layer of society. Drug-related crimes like chain snatching, robberies, and thefts are no longer isolated incidents but everyday occurrences. The correlation between the rise in crime and the spread of addiction is stark, and it’s tearing through the already fragile peace in the region.
The Minister rightly highlighted the futility of targeting small-time peddlers while the real masterminds continued to operate in full view. This observation points to a glaring lapse in intelligence-driven policing and a lack of accountability at multiple levels. In most towns and villages, locals can easily identify who is dealing in drugs and from where they can be procured. The question arises: if the public knows, how does the law enforcement machinery not? What prevents action against these individuals when their identities are practically an open secret? The fact is that drug peddlers, arms smugglers, and terrorist conduits often belong to the same network. These elements exploit porous borders, under-policed regions, and poor surveillance to run highly organised operations. In this digital era, with advanced tools available for financial tracking, it shouldn’t be difficult for law enforcement agencies to scrutinise suspicious bank transactions or sudden rags-to-riches transitions in border villages. These red flags should be more than enough to launch high-level investigations and bring the real culprits to justice.
What is needed is a multipronged strategy involving intelligence, law enforcement, community engagement, and political will. The supply chain of drugs must be dismantled brick by brick. The police need to map out smuggling and distribution hotspots and deploy seasoned officers known for integrity and effectiveness. It’s not about deploying more manpower but deploying the right people. Accountability within the Police Department must also be established-inaction should come with consequences. Interagency collaboration, particularly between the police, narcotics bureau, and intelligence wings, is essential to uncover deep-rooted networks. Moreover, proactive financial forensics and cyber-tracking of suspected individuals should become standard practice.
Equally critical is the role of the public. But this requires a safe mechanism for people to report drug-related activities without fear. Whistleblower protection laws must be effectively implemented. A simple but robust digital reporting platform should be provided, ensuring anonymity while providing an avenue for real-time intelligence from the ground. There is a necessity for a collective societal effort. Religious leaders, teachers, NGOs, parents, and local influencers must form the backbone of a cultural resistance movement. Awareness alone will not suffice; action-orientated campaigns, community policing initiatives and youth engagement programs must become widespread and sustained.
Simultaneously, drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centres are overcrowded and under-resourced. With an ever-increasing number of addicts, these institutions are stretched beyond capacity. More facilities must be set up urgently, backed by trained professionals, counsellors and social workers. Continuous psychological counselling, vocational training and reintegration programs are vital to preventing relapse and offering recovering addicts a path forward.
The fight against drugs is not a short-term battle-it’s a long, hard war. But time is running out. Each day of delay means more youth lost to this abyss. The Government and civil society have to rise to this challenge with unmatched urgency and unified purpose. Only through relentless, targeted and honest efforts can Jammu and Kashmir hope to break free from the clutches of this silent epidemic.
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