Monitor News Bureau
Srinagar, July 14: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday said that despite presence of large number of security personnel, Kashmir has become a new source of drugs in the country.
In an exclusive interview to Hindustan Times, Singh said that a drugs supply to India was first started by Pakistan with the help of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
“It started with Pakistan and its Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Their security lies in destabilising us, whether in Punjab or Kashmir. So, heroin started coming from there. Gangsterism too was developed by Pakistan, and there is a link between gangsters and drugs,” he said.
“That has taken care of inflow of drugs and arms. What is now happening is strange. One new source of drugs is Kashmir despite so much security. The other one is Delhi where Nigerians have built a nexus,” Amarinder Singh said.
He said that the death penalty at first conviction will bring stringent checks and balances in a legal system. “It will put the fear of God into them. It’s not that. Even if two or three people are convicted and sentenced to death, it will be a deterrent. It is up to the Centre to take up our suggestion for amendment,” Punjab CM said.
Apart from routine policing and being actively involved in counterinsurgency operations, Jammu and Kashmir police has been fighting an equally aggressive war against the drug abuse and the drug mafia.
Earlier, in the year, DGP Shesh Paul Vaid, calls it a “bigger challenge” than fighting militancy.
Official statistics point out that drug seizures have increased in the recent past. A couple of consignments had even come from across the border. So far, 137 kg of heroin, including 66.5 kg smuggled from PaK in a cross-LoC truck, 175 kg of charas, 760.5 kg of cannabis (bhang), 164.5 kg of ganja, besides opium and cocaine in small qualities were seized by the police from across the state. Other seizures include 2,61,539 psychotropic substances and around 8,150 kg of opium derivatives.
As many as 1,213 people were arrested on charges of being involved in 888 cases of drug smuggling and drug abuse, the police said.
Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti earlier asked the police to “chase drug-peddlers with full force and secure the innocent youth from the clutches of drug addiction”.
