Inhabitants of various areas of Downtown here made a fervent appeal to the J&K police to intensify drive against drug peddlers in the area.
The locals alleged that even though police arrested somedrug peddlers in the recent past, but the “big fish” are atlarge.
“As a result young generation of Srinagar continues tofall prey to the drug abuse as suppliers gather at Sheikh Colony area atNowhatta in evening hours and distribute drugs to dealers anddistributors,” said general secretary welfare committee Mohalla MakhdoomSahab Syed Basharat Andrabi.
“We have credible reports that suppliers who come inluxurious vehicles, in late hours and supply drugs like heroin, brown sugar,charas and other drugs that include Diazepam, Alprax and drugs in liquid form.Some people living in Sheikh Colony have been identified who are part of thedeep rooted nexus,” said Andrabi.
“Mohalla committee Makhdoom Sahab has decided to go forsocial boycott of these families and if they don’t desist from doing the drugtrade, they will be asked to vacate from the area,” he said.
“Due to growing use of drugs among large number ofyouth of Nowhatta and its adjoining areas due to easy access, number of femalestudents in various locals schools at Nowhatta has dropped drastically in thepast couple of years. Due to presence of drug addicts, movement of peopleespecially females is hindered. If some elderly persons try to stop youth fromconsuming drugs, it results in a scuffle,” he said.
Andrabi said that they have requested police to intensify driveagainst drug peddlers. “It shouldn’t be that once a drug peddler is arrestedand he would be released next day. In a recent case, a drug peddler wasarrested with heroin but after few days he was released,” he said.
Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Srinagar Dr HaseebMughal said that police is concerned about growing use of drugs among youth.”We have credible leads that Sheikh Colony of Nowhatta is den of drug deals. Wehave already taken action but the only thing is that people must come forward positivelyand lead us to big fish,” he said.
“If anyone under influence of drugs is down on road side,police is helpless and cannot take him to police station. What if he dies inpolice station? It then becomes a law and order issue,” the SSP said.
“People of Downtown must collectively do away with fearand inform police about timings when the big drug deals take place. People mustshare location with us and we promise swift action. We will show no mercy todrug peddlers be that a supplier or a distributor. Police won’t even hesitateto slap public safety act (PSA) on the drug peddlers found involved in sellingor distributing drugs among youth,” the SSP added.