Tauseef Ahmad
Srinagar, May 13: Srinagar Police have intensified their campaign against narcotics trafficking, registering 101 cases under the NDPS Act and arresting 143 alleged drug peddlers over the past month, officials said on Wednesday.
Senior Superintendent of Police Srinagar, Dr GV Sundeep Chakravarthy, said properties worth more than Rs 23 crore linked to drug trafficking networks were attached during the drive. Authorities also demolished illegal constructions allegedly built using narcotics money and froze several bank accounts connected to the trade.
Speaking on the completion of one month of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan launched under the leadership of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, the SSP said the fight against drugs was being treated as a wider social and security challenge.
“Drugs are not only a criminal issue but also a social, economic and national security threat,” he said, adding that public participation was crucial in eliminating the menace.
Dr Chakravarthy said police are now focusing on dismantling the financial and logistical networks supporting narcotics trade, including hawala channels, handlers and illegal assets, instead of only targeting street-level peddlers.
According to the SSP, action is also being initiated to cancel licenses, impound passports and verify Aadhaar-linked details of individuals allegedly involved in drug trafficking.
He said awareness programmes are being conducted across schools, colleges and residential areas to discourage youth from falling into drug abuse.
Appealing to youngsters to stay away from narcotics, the SSP urged them to focus on education, sports and careers instead of substance abuse.
He also called on citizens to share information about drug peddlers, assuring that identities of informers would remain strictly confidential.
Warning smugglers and peddlers of tough action, Dr Chakravarthy said Srinagar Police would continue an aggressive crackdown on narcotics networks operating in the city.
