Dy CM raises alarm over drug menace, says ‘issue more serious than liquor’

Anantnag, Feb 15: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Chaudhary on Saturday sounded an alarm over the escalating drug abuse problem in Kashmir, saying that it's a more pressing issue than liquor consumption.

"Liquor ban is fine. We have been discussing it all along but the focus should be more on tackling the rampant drug abuse that's gripping the society,” he said.

He said that the situation is dire, with heroin abuse, in particular, spreading rapidly across Jammu and Kashmir. "Just a few years ago, heroin abuse was virtually nonexistent in J&K, but now it's a widespread problem," he said. He said that the police and law enforcement agencies need to curb this menace, which is eating the society. "We as responsible citizens also need to play our part, " he said .

Chaudhary's statement comes amid growing concerns about the debate on imposing a ban on sale of liquor in Kashmir.