Anantnag battles drug menace, 101 cases registered under NDPS in year 2020

Sameer Ahmad

Anantnag, 01 January: The menace of drug addiction is spreading very fast in District Anantnag. The year 2020 has broken the last seven years record here in the south Kashmir’s area of Anantnag District.

The Anantnag police have registered 101 cases under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic substance (NDPS) this year in the south Kashmir’s  Anantnag District which is higher in comparison to the last seven years in the district the police said.

The young generation in Anantnag has fallen into the trap of drugs, with cases having increased by 60 percent this year as compared to the last seven years.

During the press conference here in Anantnag District SSP Anantnag Sandeep chowdary sharing case details of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic substance (NDPS) cases said that there has been a huge rise in cases in the year 2020 as compared to previous years. “In 2014 there were 40 cases registered in the district against which 45 persons were detained. Similarly in 2015, 42 persons were arrested against 39 cases. In 2016, 43 persons were arrested against 28 cases. In 2017, 56 persons were detained against 45 cases. In 2018, 42 persons were arrested against 31 cases. In 2019, 51 persons were arrested against 36 cases, and in 2020 the number has gone up with 133 arrests in 101 cases”, said SSP Anantnag Sandeep chowdary.

”The fast-rising and increasing menace of drug addiction in the Anantnag district is very dangerous and fight against the drug abuse cannot be relinquished due to any prevailing situation. It is a major concern that drug abuse is on the rise in Anantnag District,” SSP said.

Added that the parents can’t run away from their responsibilities and let their children die while taking drugs. The parents are not caring and monitoring the activities of their children, he said.

However, SSP Anantnag also said that recently a youth from Srinagar’s Khanyar locality died in a Pahalgam hotel due to ‘over doze’ of drugs which is a grave concern for the entire society. “Now the youth are indulged in this anti-societal activity at a level where they are dying due to overdose of drugs. We are investigating the case deeply.

The numbers of cases in 2020 were more than in the last seven years in Anantnag District which means after every three days, a single case has been lodged in the district against the drug addicts.

SSP Anantnag Sandeep Chowdhary said,” I am watching personally this menace in Anantnag district. The district police have already taken cognizance of the drug menace, he said.