Sajid Raina
Baramulla, Jan 6: Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police for North Kashmir Range Maqsood Ul Zamaan on Tuesday said drug abuse has emerged as the most serious challenge in Jammu and Kashmir after terrorism. He asserted that police are carrying out sustained action to tackle the growing menace.
Speaking to reporters here at DPL Bandipora, Zamaan said that north Kashmir Police had achieved notable results in recent months by recovering sizeable quantities of narcotics and arresting several people involved in drug trafficking.
“Stringent legal provisions were being invoked against offenders, and several accused had been detained under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT NDPS) Act to disrupt organised drug networks,” he said.
The DIG said police action was not limited to arrests alone, adding that properties linked to drug traffickers were also being attached and seized to break the financial backbone of the illegal trade.
“The law enforcement agencies could not combat the drug problem in isolation and underlined the importance of public participation in addressing the issue,” he said, adding that community cooperation was essential for identifying traffickers and preventing drug abuse at the grassroots level, particularly among youth.
Responding to queries, Zamaan said virtual private networks were often misused to hide illegal activities, and their misuse was being closely watched, as it could pose risks to national security.
On the security situation along the Line of Control, the DIG said North Kashmir remained a sensitive border region, but robust security measures were in place to counter infiltration attempts.
He said the area was under constant surveillance and security forces were maintaining a high level of alertness.
“Police would continue to intensify operations against drug trafficking while simultaneously engaging with the public to curb the spread of narcotics in the region,” the DIG said.
