Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir administration is likely to categorise drug peddlers operating in the state based on the degree of crimes committed by them.
According to senior government officials, the state administration has already asked senior police officers to provide a detailed area-wise list of drugs available in J&K, and a district-wise list of suspected drug dealers.
The exercise will end up creating a centralised database of drug-peddlers and smugglers, the first such list by any law enforcement agency in the country.
The move has come after an unprecedented rise in drug abuse cases in Kashmir, a trend which has left the highest levels of police and government concerned. The J&K Police registered 938 drug-related cases in 2018, of which 317 were in Kashmir, while Jammu city alone accounted for 266 cases.
Heroin has emerged as the main drug in the Kashmir, but of the 21 kg of the substance seized by the state police, only 1.48 kg was picked up from the Valley, and the rest from Jammu.
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Details of the plan
State officials said that if the proposal goes through, peddlers will be categorised on the basis of the total number of FIRs filed against them, the type of drug they were dealing, and whether or not they are involved in violent incidents and smuggling.
The state government uses a categorisation to classify militants operating in the state according to their level of involvement. The categories are A++, A+, A, B, and C. An ‘A++’ category militant is generally the commander of an outfit involved in the most number of cases. A ‘C’ category militant is generally a new recruit, perceived to be less dangerous.
The killing of a militant in each category carries a different monetary reward and incentives. However, it is unlikely that the authorities will follow the same nomenclature to categorise peddlers — being unarmed, their categorisation will only be used to make arrests and to make citizens vigilant about their surroundings.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police have also decided to set up a separate helpline to address cases of drug abuse.
Seeking citizens’ help
A senior police officer told ThePrint that though the state police have launched a massive crackdown on drug peddlers and dealers, there are many who remain absconding.
“We would like everyone in the state to participate in this crackdown on the drug menace in their own way. Concerned citizens can also help us by providing us important information about drug-peddlers or dealers. That is where the categorisation will help,” the officer said on the condition of anonymity.
“Those who are absconding or on bail but still in the drug trade will be arrested.”
The officer added that many peddlers and dealers in the state, who are booked for multiple cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, continue to deal drugs.
“Besides them, individuals who previously have not been booked, or those who have managed to stay under the radar, will also be categorised and action will be initiated against them,” the officer said.
However, he added that the move is at the “discussion stage”.
Idea came from governor’s adviser
Sources said the idea came about after retired IPS officer K. Vijay Kumar, who serves as the security adviser to J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik, took cognisance of the rising drug abuse cases in a review meeting last week.
“The top brass was not pleased at all with the handling of drug cases. A massive crackdown was ordered immediately, and since then, dozens of peddlers have been arrested,” the officer quoted above said.
“District police will be providing an area-wise list of drugs available and names of those suspected in being involved in the crime,” Vijay Kumar said.
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