Drug menace grips Kashmir

Baramulla, Dec 2: In a disturbing incident, a youth was caught by the private security wing of the Government Medical College (GMC) consuming drugs inside the premises of the medical college.

The incident occurred around noon on Monday after personnel from the private security wing of GMC Baramulla were alerted to the situation.

“A young boy was caught consuming drugs on the spot,” said a private security guard posted at the facility.

After being apprehended by the private security staff, the youth involved admitted to his addiction.

A senior official from GMC Baramulla informed Greater Kashmir that the local police would be notified about the incident before any further action is taken.

“We informed the local police about the incident, and further action will be initiated accordingly,” the official said.

The official said the youth manage to get the syringes from the local market or the pharmacy shops located outside the GMC premises. "We tried to question the boy if anyone from the hospital was in league with them and tried to obtain more details about this issue. So, we decided to inform the local police for further formalities," the official said.

The Principal GMC Baramulla Dr Majid Jahangir meanwhile said the medical college has got the private security in the hostel and the GMC hospital.

"Some drug addict was caught there in the vicinity of the hostel. So we will alert our security. I will discuss the issue with them and we will take appropriate measures so that this does not happen again in the future," he said.

He said the issue will be discussed with the district administration as well. "I will take the local administration, both civil and Police in confidence and we will try to stop this menace as soon as possible," he said.

He however said the substance abuse has become a serious problem despite efforts taken by the civil and police administration to curb the menace. "Our society is getting ruined because of drugs," he said.

He urged the parents, teachers to play their role in controlling the menace. "The teachers should speak about this problem openly," he said.

Earlier while interacting with the media fraternity, Principal GMC Baramulla said that efforts will be made to improve the patient care at the GMC and the referral of patients will be reduced.

"This hospital caters to the whole of north Kashmir and is located on the main highway, so I can understand that we get a lot of trauma patients. I will try my best to provide the best possible care to all these trauma patients here only, as well as to maternity patients, so that the referral to the LD hospital is reduced," he said.

He said that efforts will be given to start the ICU facilities here as soon as possible. "There are going to be logistic issues, various challenges are there, but it will be my earnest endeavor to make it one of the best hospitals in the Valley," he said.