Production and clandestine peddling of narcotics in different parts of the world has become all menacing. Besides creating social unevenness and economic disparity, drug addiction has become a major source of spoiling the lives of the youth. Drug peddling has become part of politics and terrorism has received immense boost through this detestable activity. International drug mafia has become very strong and formidable for Governments to control. Take the case of Afghanistan. It is world’s largest poppy producing country and the enormous money generated by poppy production is running terrorist organizations in the entire region.
Responsible official circles affirm steep rise in drug addiction and narcotic peddling in our State. In the initial stages narcotics were smuggled from the neighbouring drug producing regions through drug peddlers who have established international cartels. However, later on as militancy spread far and wide in the State, drug trafficking also increased to considerable extent and the Government was obliged to take serious note of the growing menace. A State Level Apex Committee of multiple agencies with the mandate to prepare Action Plan to eliminate the nuisance with iron hands, was formed under formal orders in 2004. Unfortunately this Committee has failed to meet during the past over three years. Why the Committee has not met and responded to the mandate remains unexplained. Incidentally, agencies like police, intelligence, customs and excise are supposed to monitor the performance of various organizations about the detection and prevention of crimes under Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. The State Level Apex Committee was asked to prepare an Action Plan for eliminating menace of cultivation of narcotic substances and drug trafficking from the State. Apart from this through another Government Order of 2004 Anti-Narcotics Task Force at divisional levels was constituted for strict implementation of laws relating to prevention of cultivation of narcotic substances and drug trafficking in the State. Two Divisional Commissioners were assigned the task of enforcing the anti-narcotics Act in each Division. Despite the clear mandate, the two divisional level Anti-Narcotics Task Force have failed to make the collective and rigorous efforts to check drug trafficking.
The point to be highlighted is that as far as paper or legal work is concerned, the State Government has performed comprehensive advisory and instructive role but all this boils down to what achievement have we made on the ground. In that sense, we have not made even barest success in controlling narcotic menace in the State. The Task Force is not working, the Action Plan does not work and the State Level Apex Committee does not deliver. How then are we going to control the menace of cultivating narcotics and peddling drugs. Addiction of youth to drugs is increasing rapidly as per the reports of the police. Retrieval of addicted youth and their de-addiction endeavour is not to our satisfaction. As such are we to lose the battle against narcotics in our State? This is a question which State authorities shall have to address without loss of time. It has to be remembered that the biggest and most serious loss on account of proliferation of drugs and narcotics in our State is in the form of a segment of our youth getting addicted and losing their creative faculty. It is regrettable that the Revenue and Police Departments are not able to prevent and destroy narcotic cultivation in some parts of the State especially in South Kashmir. It is also regrettable that our police and vigilance agencies are not able to detect and control drug peddling as news is coming in that the drug peddlers have established contacts with international drug cartels. When the BSF discovered hidden tunnels dug by the enemy somewhere on RS Pura border, they found that the international drug smugglers were using it for passing on packets of narcotics through pipelines which they had been innovated for the purpose.
In final analysis, it is unavoidable for the police and drug controlling authorities to focus on action on ground and not just quote Acts and rules and regulations. It is the responsibility of the State to save the youth from falling prey to drug addiction and spoiling their lives.
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