JAMMU: Seeking support of the civil society to eradicate menace of drug abuse, Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Jammu-Kathua range, Ashkoor Wani on Sunday said that cooperation of every section of the society is must to liberate our younger generation from the yoke of drug addiction. “We have to accept this reality that drugs are slowly tightening grip on the youth of the State. It is high time to start a deciding war against this menace”, the DIG Ashkoor Wani said while addressing a function organised by the Team Jammu in connection with the World Anti-Drug Day. The function was organised in collaboration with Baba Kailakh Nath Dev Asthaan Management Committee, Raipur-Thather near Bantalab, Jammu to synchronize police public relations to declare a war against drug abuse in Jammu region.
DIG Ashkoor Wani was the Chief Guest while SSP Jammu, Dr Sunil Gupta was Guest of Honour in the function, which was attended by Panchayats members of over 50 Panchayats of rural belt of Jammu District.
Zorawar Singh Jamwal, Chairman of the Team Jammu, presided over the function. Eminent social activist, Shakti Dutt Sharma was among prominent speakers in the function.
“I do admit that role of police is very important to make the society free from drugs but police department alone cannot accomplish this task. Without support of the every individual, it is difficult rather impossible to check drug menace”, Ashkoor Wani said while calling upon society especially Panchayat members to come forward in support of police to take on drug mafia.
“Better coordination among parents, teachers, Mohalla committee, Panchayats and cops is must to check growing influence of drug abuse among youth in the society”, DIG said and put onus on cops, deployed at ground level to keep an eye on those elements who have been involved in suspicious activities.
“10 to 15 per cent of our youth are drug addicts so remaining population of the society is duty bound to liberate this section from the yoke of this addiction”, he said and offered all support of the Team Jammu in its campaign against drug abuse.
Zorawar Singh reiterated commitment of the team to make Jammu region free from this menace. “We started our campaign in the month of November 2015 and it is really heartening that youth are coming out in large number to take this campaign to the logical conclusion”, Jamwal said and cautioned that drug abuse is the biggest challenge before the society. Pointing towards today’s function, Jamwal said that it is an effort to rope in Panchayat members and religious bodies to take this campaign at grass root level.
“Involvement of Baba Kailakh Nath Devasthan Management Committee and members of 50 Panchayats from different parts is a sign of better coordination among different sections of the society to joint take this campaign to its end”, he said and during the last over seven months, Team Jammu has received over-whelming response of the people. While appreciating the police for launching campaign against drug mafia in Jammu, Zorawar, however, said that still there are some black sheep among cops involved in helping drug mafia. “Need of the hour is to single out such black sheep to make the on-going campaign more effective and result oriented”, he said.
SSP Jammu said that Jammu Police has started a campaign in the name of Sanjeevani to make the society free from drug addiction. He said that a comprehensive campaign has already been launched to nefarious designs of drug mafia and drug suppliers in Jammu. “It is result of our campaign that nearly 60 cases regarding drugs have been registered during the last six months in Jammu district alone”, he said and informed the gathering that special squads have been constituted to take on drug mafia in Jammu region. “From this platform I want to assure the society that Jammu Police will not leave any stone unturned to bust gangs involved in supplying drugs”, he said.
Among others who addressed the gathering included Raj Dev Singh, Sarpanch, Muthi, Mohammad Anwar Khan, Sarpanch, Baghaani, Captain (retd) Kasturi Lal Sharma, Sarpanch, Kangrail, Raj Dev Singh, Sapranch, Bhalwal, Faquir Chand, Sarpanch, Ghaink, Prem Sharma, Chairman J and K Wrestling Association and Pradeep Singh Baloria, social activist of Raipur.
Noted Dogri poet Randheer Singh Raipuria enthralled the gathering with his Dogri poem on drug menace while Surjeet Singh Jamwal presented a Bhajan.