Rampant drug addiction serious concern: Grand Mufti

Srinagar, Nov 26: Kashmir’s Grand Mufti Nasir ul Islam Tuesday expressed grave concern over the rampant drug addiction among Kashmiri youth. He revealed that individuals between 17 and 33 years old are increasingly falling prey to substance abuse, despite the Valley being one of the world’s highest militarized zones.
Mufti Nasir ul Islam questioned the availability of drugs despite the presence of lakhs of security personnel. “With such a massive security deployment, how are drugs freely available?” he said adding that there is a need to identify the sources of the drug menace. He said that it is crucial to find out who is responsible for supplying these drugs and where they are coming from.
The Grand Mufti also criticized parents for granting excessive freedom to their children, enabling vulnerability to addiction. “A drug addict poses a threat to the entire society, making parental vigilance crucial,” he said and appealed to parents to keep a close eye on their children’s activities and company.
Mufti Nasir ul Islam urged authorities to intensify efforts against drug peddlers. “If security forces can track militants, why not drug dealers?” he asked. He demanded stringent action against those involved in the drug trade. [KNT]