Irfan Yattoo
Srinagar, Sep 07: In a bid to tackle drug trafficking along the UT, the Ladakh administration has started an innovative initiative by using trained sniffer dogs to identify drug peddlers at Minamarg, known as the gateway to Ladakh.
A senior police officer from Ladakh told Rising Kashmir that on the directions of higher authorities, police have started using snipper dogs to identify drug peddlers at Minamarg Police station, which is also called as gateway of Ladakh.
“We began using sniffer dogs several days ago, and they have been instrumental in identifying suspects. The dogs are brought inside vehicles for mandatory checks whenever a vehicle appears suspicious, and those vehicles are re-checked as necessary,” he said.
The officer said the move is being highly appreciated by people and hope that several such checkpoints may be set up in every part of Ladakh.
Member of Parliament – Ladakh Lok Sabha Constituency, Mohmad Haneefa said that it is welcome step that police trained dogs of Ladakh security are being used to combat drug trafficking in Ladakh
“Owing to the current drugs related problems in Ladakh, I highly appreciate the ADGP Ladakh S.D Singh Jamwal for the efforts at Minamarg (entry point of Ladakh from Kashmir), where Police trained dogs of Ladakh security are in action to combat drug trafficking in Ladakh. In this regard, I sincerely further request, worthy DGP Ladakh, to replicate such efforts at every entry point of Ladakh,” he said.
The Ladakh administration has intensified efforts to combat the spread of drug addiction in the region to keep the cold desert region free of drugs.
The Srinagar–Leh highway is being used by miscreants to smuggle narcotics to the cold desert region of Ladakh particularly during the tourist season when large numbers of domestic and foreign tourists visit Ladakh.
