Crackdown in Kashmir: Battling Drugs to Save a Generation

Srinagar police have intensified their campaign against drug trafficking, arresting 97 individuals and filing 73 cases in just three months. Amidst police pressure, heroin is harder to obtain, leading to a rise in opioid abuse. The efforts reveal both challenges and successes in combating this crisis.

Security forces in Kashmir are intensifying efforts to combat drug abuse and trafficking, leading to the arrest of 97 individuals and the filing of 73 cases over the last three months. The crackdown comes amidst concerns that Pakistan's ISI is using drug abuse to destabilize Kashmir's youth.

Dr. Mohammad Muzaffar Khan, head of a local drug de-addiction center, reports an increase in opioid abuse as heroin becomes scarce due to rigorous police action. Many addicts are buying narcotic analgesics illegally, bypassing medical shops and ordering from cities like Delhi and Amritsar.

The Srinagar police aim to dismantle financial networks behind drug trafficking, freezing bank accounts and attaching smugglers' assets. The campaign is seen as a critical measure in protecting Kashmir's youth and securing the region's future.

(With inputs from agencies.)