In the wake of rising number of youth falling prey to the menace of drugs in Kupwara district, authorities here are planning to set up a first of its kind drug de-addiction centre in the district where the addicted youth will be counseled.
“Police is planning to set up the centre at old building that housed the hospital in Kupwara town which is expected to get vacated in a few weeks after the hospital is shifted to a new building,” said Shamsher Hussian, senior superintendent of police Kupwara.
Local residents said the drug de-addiction centre will help the addicted youth to shun drugs. “It is a good move which will help drug addicts to get rid of drugs which is ruining their lives,” said Irshad Ahmad Sheikh, a resident of Kupwara.
This year so far the police have recovered 21 Kg of Charas and 500 grams of heroin from nine drug peddlers including a notorious women drug peddler, as per police officials. Police on Thursday also claimed recovery of at least 14 kg of Charas worth lakhs from four suspected drug peddlers. As per police records, in the past 18 months the frontier district has witnessed a surge in arrest of drug peddlers and recoveries of banned psychotropic substances.
Interestingly last year the district police authorities blamed Pakistan for backing what it called “narco-terrorism” in Kashmir after six accused persons were caught transporting drugs worth millions in international market from across the border in Tanghdar town of the district. About 1 kg of heroin, 3.5 kg of hashish, as well as 1.5 kg of “brown sugar” – an adulterated form of heroin – were among substances recovered from the six suspects near the LoC in Tanghdar. Three accused out of the six were residents of border town.