Tribals hold mega assembly in Bhaderwah, decide social boycott of drug traffickers

Bhaderwah (Doda), May 10: Tribal communities in Jammu and Kashmir’s Bhaderwah region, mainly Gujjars and Bakarwals, have decided to enforce a social boycott of any community member found involved in drug consumption or trafficking.

Tribal groups led by Lumberdar Mohd Hussain Chechi held a mega ‘Jirga’ (assembly of tribal elders) at Soundhar meadow in the Kellar Forest Range of Bhaderwah, where they pledged to strengthen the fight against substance abuse as part of the ongoing “Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir” campaign.

Addressing the gathering, Chechi said that after a series of meetings with different Gujjar and Bakarwal groups, the tribal elders unanimously resolved to impose a complete social boycott on any person from the community found involved in drug consumption or trafficking.

“Besides social boycott, we have also taken an oath on the Holy Quran that any person found involved in the drug trade will be immediately handed over to the police. Those providing information about such activities will be rewarded with Rs 10,000,” he said.

Chechi said the tribal representatives have also submitted an undertaking in this regard to Bhaderwah Superintendent of Police Vinod Sharma and Kellar Range Officer Shafqat Mahmood Malik.

To encourage the tribal communities participating voluntarily in the 100-day anti-drug campaign, the SP, the range officer and former DDC vice-chairperson Doda Sangeeta Rani Bhagat joined the Jirga and pledge-taking ceremony at the meadow.

“The participation of these tribal groups indicates that the campaign is no longer limited to the police or civil administration, but has strongly penetrated civil society, especially among Gujjar and Bakarwal tribes,” Sharma said.

He said the resolve shown by the tribal communities to punish culprits at the societal level was appreciable and would act as a catalyst in eradicating substance abuse from society.

“This move is critical as it empowers local communities to protect their youth, particularly in remote regions, from the increasing influence of narcotics trafficking networks,” the SP added.

Former DDC vice-chairperson Sangeeta Rani Bhagat termed the initiative a “path-breaking step” and one of the highlights of the 100-day “Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir Abhiyan” launched by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.

“I hope the society which considers itself more civilised than these tribals will take a leaf out of their initiative to practically make our surroundings drug-free,” she said.

The initiative is being seen as a major success of the ongoing 100-day anti-drug campaign aimed at adopting a whole-of-society approach to tackle the drug menace through public awareness, community participation and strict enforcement against traffickers.