Taking a serious note of J-K Police’s ‘non seriousness’ in prosecution of drug abuse cases in valley, a local court has directed the J-K’s police Chief to constitute a team of three senior police officers to monitor and ensure the presence of prosecution in such cases. In different courts at Srinagar alone over 150 cases under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) are awaiting disposal for a period ranging from one to 12 years.

The Principal District and Sessions Judge of Srinagar, Husnain Masoodi while hearing a case on NDPS while taking a strong note of absence of the prosecutions witness, observed that the elements engaged in drug trade have been able to escape punishment mostly because of a apathetic attitude of the very agency expected to shoulder the responsibility to control the drug menace.

“The drug traffickers have been able to flourish despite stringent punishment provided under law only because of the lack of commitment on part of the agency saddled with the duty to detect investigate and prosecute the cases under the NDPS act. The drug traffickers have been able to abuse the process of law, caused immense harm to the economic growth and its immediate spill over has been spiral increase in other crimes,” the Judge observed.

Referring to the case which came for hearing on Thursday, Masoodi said that the prosecution during the last 12 years, unmindful of the seriousness and gravity of the allegations levelled in the charge sheet against the accused, has taken no steps to ensure presence of the prosecution witnesses.

... contd.