J&K: Public Safety Act slapped on arrested drug peddlers, contraband recovered

By Basharat Rashid*
In 2020, Jammu and Kashmir Police in Awantipora district played a vital role in curbing the drug menace throughout the year, and arrested more than hundred drug peddlers, which happened for the first time in the region.The drug peddlers were arrested from the different parts of Awantipora and contraband substances were recovered from their possession, following which cases were registered, while several slapped with Public Safety Act (PSA).
As per the official figures, 109 drug peddlers were arrested in total, in which cases were registered against 55, and 08 peddlers lodged under PSA. Besides that, Bung and poppy cultivation were destroyed on more than three hundred kanals of land, which was used to produce drugs.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Awantipora,Tahir Saleem Khan told this journalist that as compared to previous years, police in Awantipora managed to arrest more people who were involving in drug peddling.He said that from the year 2014 to 2019, the highest number of arrestees were 43, in the year 2016, with 25 cases, and 4 PSAs, “which clearly indicates that 2020 has break all the records with more than double figures than any year since 2014.”
He appreciated his team for doing this commendable job and hailed the contribution of every policeman in curbing the drug related activities in the whole police district. In a press conference held at Awantipora a few days back, Khan said that his team had earlier destroyed bung and poppy cultivation in many places, following which major crackdown on drug peddlers began, which still continues.
He said that there is clear message to the drug peddlers that Awantipora police is committed to eradicate the drug menace throughout the district, and assured quick and more stringent action against the persons involved in drug peddling. Khan however believed that role of parents to educate their children is more important than the police action later, and appealed parents to look after their children, for their day to day activities, to save them from drugs.
Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Awantipora, Ajaz Choudhary was heading the police teams throughout the year, to ensure crackdown on drug peddlers comprehensively. Talking to this journalist, DySP Ajaz Choudhary said that Awantipora police left no stone unturned to curb the drug menace and worked day and night in 2020 to book peddlers under NDPS and PSAs. He said that “people should take care of their wards and should not let them free, as they usually involve in drugs, when they meet bad companies around.”
Choudhary said that drug peddlers usually target the children of rich families and give them greed of getting free drugs, following which children (teenagers) get addicted and start paying when they get no drugs on time. He believed that proper parental care and awareness programmes in the schools may help more in curbing the drug menace and uproot it completely.

Awantipora police recently organised an anti-drug rally, which was attended by the locals of the nearby areas as well, who all hailed the initiative of the police to uproot drugs from the region. A local namely Ghulam Mohammad Parray has said that “drugs are more dangerous than coronavirus pandemic, which need to be eradicated not only in Awantipora, but in other districts as well.”
He appreciated the Awantipora police and requested the police officials of other places to adopt the same way in order to end drug menace from the Kashmir valley. “Awantipora police worked hard to end drug menace in all the places here. Drugs are more dangerous than corona-virus, and its end is the need of hour. Police in other districts should adopt the same way to uproot and end drug menace,” Parray said.
Aadil Afroz, another resident told this journalist that police has done a marvellous job by taking stern action against the drug peddlers, which helped the society to rescue the youth from evils. He congratulated the police team particularly SDPO Awantipora Ajaz Choudhary, SSP Awantipora Tahir Saleem Khan, SHO Younis Khan and the whole team of Awantipora for taking pragmatic steps to curb drug menace in the district.
It’s pertinent to mention here that Awantipora police has been organising sports events and cultural programmes as well, side by side, ‘with the motive to inculcate skills among the new generation, so that they may stay away from drug related activities and make a good future for them.’
---
*Journalist based in Kashmir

Comments

How the slogan Jai Bhim gained momentum as movement of popularity and revolution

By Dr Kapilendra Das* India is an incomprehensible plural country loaded with diversities of religions, castes, cultures, languages, dialects, tribes, societies, costumes, etc. The Indians have good manners/etiquette (decent social conduct, gesture, courtesy, politeness) that build healthy relationships and take them ahead to life. In many parts of India, in many situations, and on formal occasions, it is common for people of India to express and exchange respect, greetings, and salutation for which we people usually use words and phrases like- Namaskar, Namaste, Pranam, Ram Ram, Jai Ram ji, Jai Sriram, Good morning, shubha sakal, Radhe Radhe, Jai Bajarangabali, Jai Gopal, Jai Jai, Supravat, Good night, Shuvaratri, Jai Bhole, Salaam walekam, Walekam salaam, Radhaswami, Namo Buddhaya, Jai Bhim, Hello, and so on. A soft attitude always creates strong relationships. A relationship should not depend only on spoken words. They should rely on understanding the unspoken feeling too. So w...

राजस्थान, मध्यप्रदेश, पश्चिम बंगाल, झारखंड और केरल फिसड्डी: जल जीवन मिशन के लक्ष्य को पाने समन्वित प्रयास जरूरी

- राज कुमार सिन्हा* जल संसाधन से जुड़ी स्थायी समिति ने वर्तमान लोकसभा सत्र में पेश रिपोर्ट में बताया है कि "नल से जल" मिशन में राजस्थान, मध्यप्रदेश, पश्चिम बंगाल, झारखंड और केरल फिसड्डी साबित हुए हैं। जबकि देश के 11 राज्यों में शत-प्रतिशत ग्रामीणों को नल से जल आपूर्ति शुरू कर दी गई है। रिपोर्ट में समिति ने केंद्र सरकार को सिफारिश की है कि मिशन पुरा करने में राज्य सरकारों की समस्याओं पर गौर किया जाए।

Censor Board's bullying delays 'Phule': A blow to India's democratic spirit

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* A film based on the life and legacy of Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule was expected to release today. Instead, its release has been pushed to the last week of April. The reason? Protests by self-proclaimed guardians of caste pride—certain Brahmin groups—and forced edits demanded by a thoroughly discredited Censor Board.

CASR urges immediate halt to Operation Kagaar, calls for peace talks with Maoists

By A Representative The Campaign Against State Repression (CASR), a collective of over 40 civil society organizations, has issued a press statement demanding an immediate end to "Operation Kagaar" and alleged state-led killings of Maoist rebels and indigenous people in central India. The group also called on the central government to create a conducive environment for initiating peace talks with the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist).

Maoist call for peace talks: A democratic opening amidst state repression?

By Harsh Thakor* The readiness of the CPI (Maoist), a banned organisation, for peace talks is seen as signifying a democratic gesture that should be welcomed by all who uphold democratic values. The ongoing conflict under ‘Operation Kagaar’ in Central India represents a clash between alleged state aggression and self-defence by oppressed communities. Critics argue that the Indian government has violated constitutional principles by promoting corporate expansion in Adivasi regions under the pretext of development, endangering the lives and livelihoods of local populations.

Incarcerated for 2,424 days, Sudhir Dhawale combines Ambedkarism with Marxism

By Harsh Thakor One of those who faced incarceration both under Congress and BJP rule, Sudhir Dhawale was arrested on June 6, 2018, one of the first six among the 16 people held in what became known as the Elgar Parishad case. After spending 2,424 days in incarceration, he became the ninth to be released from jail—alongside Rona Wilson, who walked free with him on January 24. The Bombay High Court granted them bail, citing the prolonged imprisonment without trial as a key factor. I will always remember the moments we spent together in Mumbai between 1998 and 2006, during public meetings and protests across a wide range of issues. Sudhir was unwavering in his commitment to Maoism, upholding the torch of B.R. Ambedkar, and resisting Brahmanical fascism. He sought to bridge the philosophies of Marxism and Ambedkarism. With boundless energy, he waved the banner of liberation, becoming the backbone of the revolutionary democratic centre in Mumbai and Maharashtra. He dedicated himself ...

Why crucifixion is a comprehensive message of political journey for the liberation of the oppressed

By Vijayan MJ Passion week is that time of the year when Christians all over the world remind themselves about the sufferings, anguish, pain and the bloody crucifixion that Jesus Christ took on himself, as part of his mission of emancipating the people and establishing the kingdom of god. The crucifixion was not just a great symbolism of the personal sacrifice of one person, but it was a comprehensive messaging of a political journey for the liberation of the oppressed; one filled with struggle, militancy, celebration of life, rejection of temptations, betrayals, grief, the long-walk with the cross, crucifixion and ultimately resurrection as a symbol of victory over the oppressors and evil.

How Mumbai University crumbles: Not just its buildings

By Rosamma Thomas* In recent days, the news from the University of Mumbai has been far from inspiring – clumps of plaster have fallen off the ceiling at the CD Deshmukh Bhavan, and it was good fortune that no one was injured; creepy crawlies were found in the water dispenser that students use to collect drinking water, and timely warning videos circulated by vigilant students have kept people safe so far.

CPM’s evaluation of BJP reflects its political character and its reluctance to take on battle against neo-fascism

By Harsh Thakor* A controversial debate has emerged in the revolutionary camp regarding the Communist Party of India (Marxist)'s categorization of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Many Communists criticize the CPM’s reluctance to label the BJP as a fascist party and India as a fascist state. Various factors must be considered to arrive at an accurate assessment. Understanding the original meaning and historical development of fascism is essential, as well as analyzing how it manifests in the present global and national context.

Akhilesh Yadav’s boycott of Dainik Jagran: A step towards accountability or political rhetoric?

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat Akhilesh Yadav has called for a total boycott of Dainik Jagran, a newspaper owned by the Gupta family. He also declared that the Samajwadi Party will no longer participate in any panel discussions organized by a media channel allegedly controlled by the family or relatives of the omnipresent Rajiv Shukla. Akhilesh Yadav and the Samajwadi Party are well aware that Dainik Jagran has long been antagonistic to Dalit-Bahujan interests. The newspaper represents a Bania-Brahmin corporate and ideological enterprise.

Search This Blog