30 peddlers booked under PSA, 23 under NDPS in Srinagar alone last year.
By Majid Nabi
THE recent murder case of a Baramulla woman by her drug addict son has prompted experts to state that a drug-induced aggression is growing and getting fatal in Kashmir.
The aggression, a UK based Kashmiri consultant psychiatrist said, is caused by drug cravings, severe withdrawal syndrome, restlessness and mood swings in a drug addict.
“The social fabric has changed in Kashmir, people do due to the social stigma attached to the menace do not want their children to be admitted at drug de-addiction centers,” she added.
“People have to break the shackles and get their drug addict children treated before the situation turns ugly.”
The Baramulla matricide episode is the third such reported case amid the growing instances of drug abuse in Kashmir. Last year, in October, a druggie along with his accomplice friend killed his mother by hitting her head with a stone in Anantnag district. In the same district, in December 2022, a drug addict killed three including his mother.
Experts attribute Kashmir’s alarming substance abuse problem to post traumatic disorder caused by protracted strife, family issues and unemployment-induced anxiety.
In an alarming revelation by the central government in the Parliament recently, nearly one million people in Jammu and Kashmir consume drugs in one or the other form.
The data provided by the federal government suggested that nearly 4 lakh people have fallen prey to substance abuse since November last year, as six lakh people according to the State Level Committee of the Narco Coordination Centre, were affected by drugs in J&K until then.
“J&K has already surpassed the number of drug addicts in Punjab,” said Dr. Fazl-e-Roub, Consultant Psychiatrist IMHANS Kashmir.
“Behind the flare-up is the three-decade-old strife, family issues and unemployment escalated by pandemic lockdown.”
As many as 30 drug peddlers were booked under Narco-Public Safety Act and 22 were booked under The Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1988 in Srinagar last year.
Similarly, 169 cases were registered under NDPS Act in Srinagar in 2022, while 287 persons involved in drug peddling were put behind the bars.
In North Kashmir’s Baramulla, 100 drug peddlers have been booked in 68 NDPS cases registered across the district since January this year with around 50 arrests made.
“Parents have a significant role to play in this direction, as police alone cannot curb the menace,” Rakesh Bhalwal, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar, told Kashmir Observer.
“Police vacillate to counsel drug addicts, fearing if the person dies due to craving or some other reasons during counseling in the police station, parents would blame police for custodial killing.”
Situation in Srinagar is alarming so far as substance abuse is concerned, SSP Bhalwal said. “A total of 208 cases were registered in Srinagar in 2022 while 30 drug peddlers were booked under Narco PSA and 22 under PIT NDPS Act,” the officer said, adding that a total of 39 cases were registered from January 2023 till date in Srinagar, with 68 arrests.
414.57 grams of heroin, 14.159 kg charas, 72.79 kg fukki, 77.34 kg poppy-straw or bung, 5774 bottles of psychotropic syrup and 99382 tablets and capsules were recovered from those arrested in 2022, SSP Srinagar said. “While as 740.33 grams of heroin, 3.36 grams charas, 49 bottles of psychotropic syrup and 6223 tablets and capsules were recovered in Srinagar from January 2023 till date.”
Not only adults, the female consultant psychiatrist said, but children below 14 years have also been affected with drugs, while married adults aged 33 to 40 have also fallen prey to the menace.
“The episodes that unfolded in the valley after 2019 have also contributed to the substance abuse in the valley,” she said, “while post traumatic disorders like turmoil, unemployment are considered to be the root causes of the menace.” she added.
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