Heroin used as cold war weapon by Pakistan: DC Shopian

Shopian, Jan 21: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shopian, Mohammad Shahid Saleem Dar, on Tuesday raised serious concerns over the use of heroin as a “cold war weapon” by the neighbouring country of Pakistan to harm the gene pool of Indian citizens.
Addressing the media, the deputy commissioner revealed that heroin, a morphinan opioid synthesized from the dried latex of the opium poppy, is being smuggled into Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab through drones across the border from neighbouring country of Pakistan.
The deputy commissioner said that forensic studies have shown heroin is adulterated in the local market to increase its weight, enhancing profits.
He disclosed that various chemicals, laxatives, and even chemical weapon precursors are mixed with heroin to boost its weight.
These substances, banned by several international organizations, are aimed at damaging the gene pool of Indian citizens.
“This is a cold war, they want our new generation to be crippled,” he warned.
The deputy commissioner emphasized the critical role of the administration in tackling drug abuse among the youth. However, he acknowledged that the administration alone cannot address the issue comprehensively. He called for a collective response involving all stakeholders, including families, communities, and media, to combat the menace of drug addiction.
He urged parents to closely monitor their children’s behaviour and the company they keep, highlighting the importance of early detection of behavioural changes.
He appealed to the media to play a pivotal role in raising awareness about the dangers of drug addiction, describing it as a trap leading to death.
The deputy commissioner further revealed alarming statistics, saying that Jammu and Kashmir has approximately 14 lakh addicts. Among them, 1.7 lakh are below 18 years of age, and 40 percent are girls.