Chief Minister Concerned Over Drug Abuse in Jammu and Kashmir

Illicit drug trafficking across the international border and drug abuse is a bothersome issue in certain parts of India. Now it is Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Jammu and Kashmir, who has expressed his concerns over drug abuse in the state. Sayeed suggested that a multi-pronged strategy has to be evolved to check the drug menace. Intervening during a question in the legislative council, Sayeed said, "To check drug trafficking strict action has to be initiated against the people involved. The government has adopted a policy to control drug trafficking, broadly based on promotion of use of narcotic and psychotropic substances for medical and scientific purposes, while preventing their illicit traffic and abuse. Smugglers from across the international border were involved in the drug racket in the state and this needs to be checked immediately."

Choudhary Lal Singh, Health Minister of J&K, said, "A state-level apex committee under the chairmanship of the chief secretary has been constituted which holds regular meetings on prevention of drug trafficking in the state. The government has taken initiatives like establishment of drug addiction and treatment centers, sensitization of consumers and continuous monitoring. No person has been put behind bars in the last five years for drug trafficking. Three cases in Srinagar and one each in Baramulla, Kupwara, Kulgam and Shopian were registered during this period."

Source-Medindia