NDPS Courts will prove boon

While as the Regional Police Chief has vowed to ensure drug-free Kashmir as the department’s commitment for the year 2024, the civil administration at the same time has maintained that since the relevant laws are in place bolstered by police force in satisfactory numbers, it becomes imminent to deal with the drug menace very forcefully to weed it out from Jammu and Kashmir. On the first day of New Year, the police in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district stated to have booked most wanted and notorious drug smugglers under PIT NDPS Act in the district. In a separate communiqué, the district police Baramulla stated to have arrested two drug peddlers and recovered contraband substances from their possession. Since the police have resolved to ensure drug-free Kashmir in 2024, it must focus on curbing the main dealing and peddling of the contraband substances at the main source. The law implementing agency as well as the government should identify the main peddlers and take appropriate action against them. Moreover, to ensure the goal is achieved, it would need a lot of hectic work and efforts to bring all the culprits to justice and thus simultaneously, the Police needs to activate its source as well as the intelligence to trace the kingpins so that the motive and commitment is achieved on the ground. Wiping out the drug menace would be an easy task in case the kingpins are identified and dealt with strictly as per the law. But, this cannot help to wipe out the drug menace completely as it would need a number of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) courts to ensure the early and timely conviction of the people associated with the illegal drug trade. Therefore, the process in this regard should be started at the same time so that the adequate number of NDPS courts will be established so that there is no delay in ensuring early conviction.