Srinagar, Feb 07: Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed an increase in drug addiction related cases, with over 2,000 person arrested for its sales and consumption in the last two years.
In 2016, 873 persons were arrested in the state in 607 cases under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
The number increased by over 40 per cent in 2017, as1,327 persons have been booked under the act in 874 cases.
As per figures by Police Department, Jammu region with 624 cases has witnessed higher drug abuse compared to Kashmir where 350 such cases have been registered by police during 2017.
In Kashmir, Srinagar district has seen more drug abuse as 72 persons have been arrested last year in 48 cases.
Similarly, Samba district in Jammu has seen 127 persons arrested in 91 cases.
Currently three department including Excise, Police and Drug and Food Control Organisation are overlooking to curb the drug menace in the state.
As per Police Department, the most commonly consumed drug in the state is cannabis and opium, which is locally cultivated in both the regions.
Narcotics Control Bureau of Union Ministry of Home Affairs annual report for 2016 has revealed that J&K was one among the top states in India where maximum drug illicit crops are cultivated.
As per the police, over 16,900 kg of narcotics including 140 kg of heroin and 374 kg of cannabis items were seized during anti-drug drives in 2017, respectively.
It said 24,7341 intoxicant capsules and tablets besides 8,149 kgs of opium derivatives, 12,913 codeine phosphate bottles and 1,285 injections have also seized.
Currently, two main drug de-addiction centres- Police Drug De-addiction and Rehabilitation Centre and drug de-addiction centre at the SMHS hospital are functioning for rehabilitation of drug abusers.
Officials at the drug de-addiction centre SMHS hospital claim that they receive 12 drug abuse cases every day.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also recently directed senior police officials to use Public Safety Act (PSA)–a law under which a person can be detained without trial for up to two years–against those involved in the cultivation and smuggling of drugs.
