Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Sep 5: The drug crisis in Jammu and Kashmir has reached alarming levels, with 6,564 cases registered over the past four years and more than 9,400 people arrested in connection with drug-related offenses. However, the political parties seem to have been playing a proverbial ostrich for such a situation.
None of the major political parties, including the Congress, National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), or Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have made eradicating the drug menace a core agenda during the ongoing Assembly elections. Instead, the political rhetoric continues to revolve around the restoration of special status and statehood for Jammu and Kashmir.
Data from law enforcement agencies reveals a steep rise in drug-related cases. In 2021, 1,681 cases were registered, leading to 2,500 arrests, while 2022 saw 1,693 cases with 2,400 arrests. The numbers spiked in 2023-24, with 3,190 cases and 4,500 arrests.
The heroin recovery has also grown over the years. In 2020, 128 kg of heroin was seized, followed by 198 kg in 2021, 212 kg in 2022, and 200 kg in 2023. The total heroin recovered in the last four years is valued at approximately Rs 30,000 crore.
However, despite this growing crisis, political discourse during the elections has largely ignored the issue. The focus remains on constitutional matters such as special status and statehood, leaving many to question why the escalating drug problem is not a priority for political parties.
“The Drug menace and its eradication is there in our priorities. Please do not think that we have ignored it. However, these elections have been held after more than a decade that too when Jammu and Kashmir was stripped of its identity and status. We have to tell people about this but at the same time, our youth are our future and eradication of drug menace is very much our top most priority,” said Khurshid Alam, a former legislator from PDP.
A Congress leader echoed the similar concerns, stating that immediate measures will be taken to tackle the root causes of drug addiction that has taken the shape of pandemic. Leaders from the National Conference and other parties were not available for comments on this issue.
