In a concerted effort to combat the drug menace in the city, the Jammu Police have identified fourteen locations as ‘drug hot spots’ and intensified their crackdown on narcotics peddlers and traffickers. This revelation comes as the authorities highlight various efforts aimed at eliminating the drug problem in Jammu.
Addressing a press conference on Sunday, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jammu, Dr Vinod Kumar revealed that 71 cases related to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act were registered, and 85 peddlers were arrested, along with significant quantities of contraband substances, primarily heroin, so far this year.
“We have identified 14 locations as drug hot spots in the city and carried out 85 raids at these places besides increasing the presence of manpower. These locations were also brought under increased surveillance of district special branch officials,” the SSP stated. In a stern move, 13 notorious drug peddlers were booked under the stringent Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT NDPS) Act in the past three months, compared to a total of 24 cases last year. Outlining a two-pronged strategy, the SSP said, “We have launched a two-type strategy to tackle the drug menace, with a primary focus on creating awareness among people and secondly, the rehabilitation of drug-addicted youth who are treated as victims.” In line with this approach, the Jammu Police have recently opened a state-of-the-art drug rehabilitation center equipped with all facilities and qualified staff.
Seeking active support from the public in eradicating the drug menace, the SSP assured that even if any police personnel were found involved in drug peddling, strict action would be taken against such individuals as per the prevalent laws. “Of the total cases, police have busted the forward and backward linkages of 27 cases and attached three properties of notorious drug peddlers, while similar action is on the cards against others,” he added, stating that investigations have so far not revealed a direct link between narcotic smugglers and cross-border elements. The SSP also revealed that the police are keeping surveillance on former Over Ground Workers (OGWs) of terrorists to ensure that they are not recycled and get involved in narco-terrorism.
“There was no instance where drug smugglers used luxurious vehicles… in fact, most of the arrests were made from public transport,” he said. In preparation for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the SSP disclosed that separate teams have been constituted, while additional manpower has been deployed at checkpoints to ensure free and fair elections. The Jammu Police’s intensified crackdown on the drug menace, coupled with their efforts to rehabilitate addicted youth and raise awareness, underscores the authorities’ commitment to creating a safer and drug-free environment in the city.
