Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani has expressed serious concern over substance abuse in Kashmir.
“Our worthy land ofnatural beauty is bleeding for the last 7 decades. Death and destruction hasknocked every soul. Engulfed in the gloom and miseries, valley is now facing anew and unique monster of drugs, running deep in the society threatening itsexistence,” Geelani said in a statement.
“Health experts and institutions reveal horrifying data nosane person loves to believe. After 2015 there is addition of more than 6,000drug addicts every year which indicates a good number of teenage girls, enoughto demolish any social fabric to rubble without anybody knowing it.”
“Those involving in this menace have a strong and activenetwork, able to creep to the deepest core of society. Highway dabas, tea shopsin the vicinity of educational institutions, shrines and masjids, with theirheavy rush of people are thriving hubs for these inhuman and immoralactivities. 8th to 12th standard students are more vulnerable,” he said.
“Menace of drugs seems to be last nail in the coffin for ouryouth. Before this evil destroys the basics of our culture, our identity, ourfaith and our social network—it needs to be dealt with a heavy hand,” Geelanisaid.
Hailing the recent efforts of Ulema, he said that thisepidemic has to be addressed at various levels, which include domestic, villageand mohalla, district and state level.
“Likewise well known, respectable citizens in mohallasshould keep an eye on the youngsters and our imams and khateebs get anopportunity to talk on every Friday, they too should apprise the society aboutthis fast growing epidemic engulfing our youth. We cannot afford to lose ourgeneration to drugs as we have already paying a heavy price for daring to standfor our basic and fundamental rights,” he said.
Elaborating, Hurriyat (G) Chairman said “to pin hopeson police and administration seems to be irrational. Our “active” police by thehelp of a vast and grass root information network, nab the pro-freedom youthwithin hours—but this drug and liquor mafia is flourishing day by day under thewatchful eyes of law enforcing agencies, otherwise huge security grid shouldhave acted as a deterrent for any social evil.” “Liquor is available in camps and youth inadjourning areas have easy access to it. Unless deep root of this menace isunearthed and struck hard, spreading epidemic cannot be controlled by treatingthe apparent symptoms only,” Geelani said.