JAMMU, April 15: Authorities in Jammu have intensified efforts against the drug trade under a 100-day ‘Nasha Mukt Abhiyan’ initiative, with the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Jammu issuing a stern warning against police inaction. Joginder Singh stated that station house officers (SHOs) would be held accountable, asserting that either they would remain in their positions or drug peddlers would be eradicated from their jurisdiction.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the SSP characterized the pervasive drug problem as a calculated plot by an adversarial nation aimed at societal addiction. He highlighted the alarming rate at which the illicit trade is expanding, particularly the distribution of ‘chitta,’ a form of adulterated heroin, noting that an estimated eight to ten new individuals are becoming involved in drug peddling every minute.
The ongoing anti-drug campaign, initiated on March 11 by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, is being rigorously implemented with a zero-tolerance policy toward narcotics. The strategy encompasses stringent enforcement measures, public awareness campaigns, and rehabilitation programs for affected individuals. The SSP indicated that the drive is yielding positive results, with some individuals voluntarily coming forward to seek help and families reporting cases to the authorities.
He emphasized a shift from the past, where such issues were often concealed, to a present where open discussion in every household is encouraged. To combat the trade, enforcement actions are being broadened to include measures such as license cancellations, blacklisting of vehicles involved in drug activities, scrutiny of government benefits provided to individuals linked with drug offenses, and thorough financial investigations into illicitly acquired assets.
The SSP expressed concern over the rapid spread of drug peddling, stating, “The speed at which this is happening is extremely high. Even as we speak, I feel eight to ten new drug peddlers are being created. This is the pace, this is the seriousness with which the drug trade — especially chitta business — is spreading.” He also confirmed that properties associated with drug-related activities have been demolished or confiscated in previous phases of the campaign, and such actions will continue.
Describing the situation as a significant conspiracy, the SSP stated, “This is not a small matter but a major conspiracy by our enemy country to push our entire society into addiction. This entire phenomenon of drug terrorism is part of a well-planned design.” He appealed for widespread societal support to eradicate the menace.
Addressing the flow of contraband into Jammu, the SSP declared a decisive approach: “We will target the entire supply chain and hit it hard — very hard. I have issued clear directions: in any police station’s jurisdiction, either the drug peddler will remain or the SHO — there is no place for both.” He urged the public to actively participate in the current 100-day drive, reiterating the clear objective: to dismantle the entire drug network, ensure no peddler remains active, and facilitate the rehabilitation of victims back into society. The battle against drug abuse has reached a critical juncture, he stressed, and requires decisive action.
The SSP further noted the cyclical nature of addiction, where substance abuse often leads to criminal activities like theft, and subsequently, individuals may become involved in drug peddling themselves, thereby perpetuating the illegal trade. “We must bring our youth out of this trap at any cost, and this is only possible when society stands united,” he asserted.
Issuing a stern warning to those attempting to circumvent law enforcement and continue illegal drug activities, he stated, “No one involved in drug trafficking, at any level, will be spared. At the same time, innocent individuals will not be harassed.”
The Chenab Times News Desk