J-K govt for multi-pronged strategy to check drug menace

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said a multi-pronged strategy has to be evolved to check the menace of drug trafficking in the state.
Intervening during a reply in the Legislative Council, Sayeed said a multi-pronged strategy has to be evolved to check the menace of drug trafficking and strict action should be initiated against the persons involved.
The question was raised by Yasir Reshi, which was replied by Minister for Health and Medical Education Lal Singh.
In his reply, Singh said the government has adopted a policy to control drug trafficking, broadly based on promotion of use of narcotic and psychotropic substances for medical and scientific purposes, while preventing their diversion from illicit sources and prohibiting illicit traffic and abuse.

Singh said a state level apex committee under the chairmanship of the chief secretary has been constituted which holds regular meetings for prevention of cultivation or drug trafficking in the state.
He said the government has taken initiatives like establishment of drug addiction and treatment centres, strengthening regulatory mechanism of State Drug Control, preparation of Standard Treatment Plan (STP) based on treatment requirement of an addict, sensitisation of consumer population and continuous monitoring mechanism in this regard has been evolved.

The minister said no person has been put behind the bars during the last five years for trafficking of drug formulations.

He said three cases in Srinagar, one each in Baramulla, Kupwara, Kulgam and Shopian and three cases of habit-forming drug cases were registered.
Members cutting across the party lines raised the issue of grave concern in the Council today. G N Monga, Shehnaz Ganai, Qaisar Jamsheed, Sofi Yousuf, Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo, Haji Inayat Ali, Surinder Choudhary and Vibodh Gupta raised supplementary questions.