The Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh on Monday asked his officers to take stern action against habitual drug peddlers and bovine smugglers under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA).
While complimenting police personnel for maintaining peace and order, Singh said in an official statement that besides fighting terrorism, the police has to ensure that other crimes remain under check. Cases of social crime including bovine smuggling and drug peddling must be registered and investigated properly, and the culprits must get convicted. He has directed the district SSPs to make strong cases against habitual offenders in drug peddling and bovine smuggling, adding "the process of registering and challenging such cases should be on fast track, and the culprits be booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA).
The DGP said that there should be quick disposal of cases and effective recovery of the stolen property.
On August 5, the BJP government abrogated Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution and bifurcated Jammu and Kashmir into two Union territories amid large scale arrests and communication blackout in the state. The government has booked hundreds of people under the Public Safety Act since then including former Chief Minister and National Conference president Dr. Farooq Abdullah. On Saturday, Jammu and Kashmir government extended the PSA on Dr. Abdullah by another three months. Dr. Abdullah, CM of J&K for four times and an MP thrice, currently represents the Srinagar constituency in the parliament. Dr. Abdullah was detained following the revocation of Article 370 and 35-A on August 5, 2019. Farooq Abdullah has been lodged in a private house at Gupkar Road, which was declared a sub-jail.
Tribal activists say that a large number of people have been booked for bovine smuggling over the years. Tribal Foundation president Javid Rahi described placing PSA on smugglers is right step. However, he added that for past few years, the Jammu region has been witnessing an abrupt increase in cases of attacks on Gujjars once they move along with their animals. He said the nomadic groups who mainly migrate via roads are regularly harassed in some localities if they are travelling with cattle, buffaloes or camels during the course of the annual migration that starts in April every year. Rahi said now they travel with permission of the deputy commissioners with proper permission.
