‘Narco-terrorism’ biggest challenge in J-K: DGP Dilbagh Singh

GANDERBAL — Jammu and Kashmir’s Police chief Dilbagh Singh on Sunday said that “narco-terrorism” was the biggest challenge for the police force as the neighbouring country wants to destroy the new generation on one hand and pump the money earned out of narco-sale to fuel militancy.

Addressing the passing-out-cum attestation parade of new recruits at Police Training Centre (PTC) Manigam in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district here, the DGP, as per news agency KNO, said that narco-terrorism of late is the biggest challenge for the police.

“Even though the police is facing it effectively by busting all modules involved in narco-trade but a lot more needs to be done on this front,” the DGP Singh said, adding, “Our neighbour (Pakistan) is not happy with the peaceful atmosphere prevailing in J&K and wants to promote narco-terrorism by luring the youth towards drugs and use the money earned out of narco-sale to fuel militancy.”

The DGP said that drones are being sent from across to air-drop narcotics and weapons. “Police and other security agencies have succeeded in curbing this menace. A lot more needs to be done to stop the narco-terrorism in J&K as it remains a big challenge,” he said.

He said that J&K Police are committed to ensuring a peaceful atmosphere in J&K but “our neighbour continuously hatches conspiracies to disrupt peace.”

“We will continue to work to make peace a permanent feature in J&K,” DGP Singh said and paid rich tributes to 1601 police personnel including 514 Special Police Officers (SPOs) who laid lives in the line of duty during the past over 30 years.

About ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’, the DGP said that the move is aimed to show people’s commitment towards their country but “neighbouring country wants ‘Har Ghar Matam’.”

“We thank people for supporting our initiative of creating a peaceful atmosphere in J&K and defeating the forces working for disrupting the peace,” he said.

Many areas in J-K cleared off militancy: LG Manoj Sinha

Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday said that many areas in the UT have been cleared off the militancy and its eco-system stands fully damaged while efforts are on to root-out militancy from the entire region. He, however, said narco-terrorism, if not handled in time, will emerge as cancer.

Addressing the passing-out-cum-attestation parade of 538 new recruits at Police Training Centre (PTC) Manigam, Ganderbal, the LG, as per news agency KNO, said that police along with other security forces through its human and technical intelligence have been able to clear off many areas in J&K from the menace of militancy and its ecosystem.

“But more needs to be done to root out the terrorism completely from J&K. Narco-terrorism is fast emerging as the biggest challenge and if it is not dealt with in time, it can take the shape of cancer. For eradicating militancy, you need to destroy all its off-shoots and tools supporting it,” the LG said.

He said that police in J&K was facing multiple challenges on many fronts. “In other states, challenges for police are less compared to J&K. Here, police have to maintain law and order, deal with social crimes, criminals, also with militancy and subversive elements,” the LG said and hailed the police force for facing all challenges bravely and in a professional manner.

He said that the police force is fast learning the art of countering technical and social media propaganda through the same means. “We have countered the social media propaganda by using online means and the police force is working hard on that front,” Sinha said.

He said that the administration has been providing full support to police over the years and no stone will be left unturned to make the police force more efficient in the times to come. He said that new recruits who completed their course are not trained to do just normal policing, but to handle law and order, deal with militancy and are also trained to use computers to stay connected through CCTNS.