Every district to have one or two Rehab Centers
*Narcotics coming from Pak cause of concern
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 9: The Lieutenant Governor’s administration has decided to launch major crackdown on drug dealers in Jammu and Kashmir to curb the menace taking series of measures including a check on smuggling of narcotics, generating awareness by involving almost entire administrative machinery, civil society and other stakeholders right up to Panchayat level, apprehending big fishes and opening Rehabilitation Centers in every district through the Health Department.
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The Deputy Commissioners and SSPs of all districts have been asked to coordinate activities in their jurisdiction.
“A message has gone to police to identify big fishes in every district, may be 5-10 or whatever is their number and then ensure that either they flee or are captured. Apprehending big fishes only will help curb the drug menace,” sources said.
They said Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha will lead the drive of Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan trying to cover almost every district in Jammu and Kashmir beginning Jammu from April 11. Programmes and schedules for other districts of the Jammu region which the LG will cover are being finalized.
However, a similar drive in the Kashmir Valley is likely to start in the month of May.
“Smuggling of drugs from across the border also remains a major challenge as the trade is being used for financing terrorism. The drugs coming from Pakistan fetch four-time rates on reaching Jammu and Kashmir, seven times in Punjab and 10 times in Delhi,” the sources said, adding sometimes the amount generated from drug deals is also used to finance the terrorism.
Security forces are already maintaining high alert at both Line of Control (LoC) as well as International Border (IB) not only to check infiltration of terrorists but also drug smuggling though different modes.
The administration has also drawn a proposal for rehabilitation of the drug victims.
“Once a youth is out of the drug menace, he can be helped by the administration with self-financing schemes,” the sources said.
The administration has also proposed that the Health Department will open one to two Rehabilitation Centers in every district for treatment of drug-addicts. However, as far as existing private Rehabilitation Centers are concerned, sources said, they will have to comply with norms of the Government or otherwise action will be taken against them.
Sources said the MLAs, ex legislators, social reformers religious leaders, sports personalities, artists, painters, Padma awardees and other such personalities can also play their roles in curbing the drug menace and hopefully they will join the drive being launched from April 11.
Police has been told to ensure that their cases pertaining to drugs stand before the court of law which will keep the drug dealers behind the bars for a long time.
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