Shocking it may sound but it is a fact that Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has succeeded in securing conviction of only four persons as against over 13,000 arrests made under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPSA) in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory since 2019. Similarly, 11 arrests were made in the Union Territory of Ladakh under anti-drug law but none has been convicted thereby pointing towards loopholes in the investigation of the Central Agency which is tasked with combating drug trafficking and use of illegal substances.
The startling picture has come to the fore from the analysis of the reply of Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary given in the Lok Sabha in response to a question regarding smuggling of narcotic substances in the country and number of arrests and convictions under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
As per the details shared by the Minister with the Members of Parliament, the Narcotics Control Bureau made 1700 arrests under NDPSA in J&K in 2019, 1769 arrests in 2020, 2217 arrests in the year 2021, 2755 arrests in 2022, 3072 arrests in 2023 and 1673 in 2024.
However, the data regarding conviction of cases by Narcotic Control Bureau paints the gloomy picture as only one each conviction was secured in 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2024 while as there was no conviction in 2020 and 2024.
As far as Union Territory of Ladakh is concerned, eight arrests were made in the year 2021 and three in the year 2022 under NDPSA. However, none of them could be convicted for the reasons best known to those who conducted the investigation after making the arrests.
“The negligible conviction under NDPSA cases cannot be justified in any manner especially in the light of the fact that Jammu and Kashmir is in the tight grip of drug menace and unless those indulging in the illegal activities are given exemplary punishment there cannot be deterrence”, legal experts opined.
They said, “there is dire need for the Narcotics Control Bureau to seriously ponder over the shortcomings or loop-holes in the investigation in NDPSA cases so that effective and corrective steps are taken for increasing the conviction rate otherwise situation will continue to aggravate”
Meanwhile, the Union Minister informed the Parliament that considering the international obligations and having regard to the available information and evidence with respect to the nature and effects of abuse or scope for abuse, the Narcotics Control Division of Department of Revenue has scheduled 134 narcotic drugs under Section 2(XI)(b), 173 psychotropic substances under Section 3 and 45 controlled substances under Section 9-A of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 in order to exercise due regulation, control or prohibition in public interest while ensuring availability of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances for medical and scientific use subject to the relevant provisions to the NDPSA.
He further informed the Parliament that Ministry of Home Affairs has established a four-tier Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) mechanism for ensuring better coordination between Central and State Drug Law Enforcement Agencies and other stakeholders in the field of controlling drug trafficking and drug abuse in India.
“The NCORD portal developed by Narcotics Control Bureau is all in one platform for information related to drug law enforcement”, he further said, adding “topics like NCORD, training and capacity building, narco offenders data, legal information, exemplary initiatives taken by States/UTs are covered on NCORD portal”, the Minister added.
It is pertinent to mention here that all the concerned agencies assigned the task of tightening noose around those dealing with drugs are required to cooperate with each other to win the ongoing war against drug menace, which is spoiling the young generation at a rapid pace. (Excelsior)
