Chief Secy orders tight vigil along borders to prevent drug smuggling

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo has directed the authorities to maintain heightened vigil in areas along borders with Pakistan from where drugs are smuggled into areas of Jammu and Kashmir.

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Chairing the 13th UT Level NCORD (Narcotics Coordination) meeting to review progress on tackling drug trafficking and abuse across J&K, the Chief Secretary expressed concern over the vulnerability of border districts to cross-border drug smuggling.

He directed the concerned authorities to maintain surveillance to detect the involvement of locals in this illicit trade.

During the meeting, the Chief Secretary gave a set of comprehensive directions aimed at tightening the enforcement and judicial mechanisms under the NDPS Act. He underscored the urgent need to adopt a multi-pronged strategy combining strict law enforcement, judicial efficiency and community awareness to successfully deal with this menace.

In a significant decision, the Chief Secretary asked for constitution of District Monitoring Committees in each district of the union territory. These committees, to be headed by the respective Deputy Commissioners, with SSPs and public prosecutors as members, will be responsible for regularly monitoring the status of NDPS cases. They will specifically focus on long-pending cases and facilitate their speedy trial and disposal, he added. He also directed that a police station-wise review of all NDPS cases be carried out regularly to strengthen the quality of prosecution and enhance conviction rates. He advised the Police Department to utilise its intelligence network effectively to detect patterns, identify repeat offenders, and track supply chains.