Octopus of Drug Abuse

Rajan Kapoor 

 Punjab, the land of warriors and saints, is in the tight grip of drug abuse. The arrest of drug lord  Bholla by the Punjab police has been an eye opener  for the state of Punjab in particular and the country in general. The drug racket that has been thriving in Punjab accounts for  rupees 6000 Crore. The tentacles of this racket spreads to the various parts of the country . Besides, it has international links also. The revelations made by the accused are both horrible and startling. He has alleged the involvement of politicians, bureaucrats, police officers and other influential persons. The nexus is deep rooted. Punjab which shares border with Pakistan has been facing the problem of drug smuggling since long. It has now become an important transient route to smuggle drugs from Afghanistan via Pakistan to India and  finally to its real destination—i.e the International market. This racket enjoys the powerful support of those who’ve their say in the corridors of powers. 

This evil has already cast its shadow over Punjab. Its youth has fallen an easy prey to habitual drugs. As per the research, 7 out of 10 young people in Punjab are addicted to one or another drug. Many households have been destroyed by the menace of drugs. A locality in the city of Amritsar that goes by the name ‘Maqboolpura’ does not have a single house from where a member has not fallen a prey to this menace. The moot question is : What  makes the  menace of drug abuse to survive? It is a difficult question. Yet, an answer is not far to seek. As this racket thrives with the active collusion of those who control the leverage of power, it is not difficult to locate the root of the problem. 

Secondly, drug smuggling is a very lucrative business and windfall gains can be made in a short span of time. That is why almost every influential person worth his salt tries to dabble in this great –

business. 

Thirdly, certain drugs have got values in the international market and fetch huge profits. A space for the International smugglers is naturally created . Punjab being a border state too makes it vulnerable for drug smuggling. 

Drug racket has another angle also. It is a part of well-planned conspiracy by big powers and  enemies of the country to destroy the youth of India. It will thus render India weak ,they feel. Free market economy  too gives a boost to international drug racket. Developed nations supply drugs to developing nations to make huge profits. Drug money is often used to buy weapons to destabilize the establishments that do not toe their lines. Cartelization of drug smuggler gangs further compound the situation. They ,with the might of their money and muscles run a parallel government and often resist any attempt to harm their business with full force.  

 Strong  Political  will is required to weed out the menace of this drug abuse. The way ruling political parties have  been treating this issue does not evoke any hope. Stringent laws need to put in to place to deter smugglers of drugs . An awareness campaign to rid Punjab and the nation is also the need of the hour.