UNITED HUMAN RIGHTS FEDERATION United Human Rights Federation is an organization of international ramications and working in the different elds all over the world for protecting the human race with its dignity. UHRF with the help of experts, volunteers and in association with several agencies, are closely observing the affairs and activities of various countries in the eld of politics, economy, foreign trade, business, safety and security measures insured by the respective governments to its citizen. Since the Pathankot attacks happened in January this year, the ourishing drug trade and its connection to these attacks has caught everyone's attention. We, as an organization dedicated to the rights and justice for the common people, decided to look into the matter and try to bring out the real truth regarding Punjab's ongoing drug crisis.We found out that the extent of drug addiction in Punjab is alarming. Near border areas the rate of heroin abuse among 15 to 25 year olds is as high as 75% – the percentage is 73% in other rural areas throughout the region. There is at least one death due to drug overdose each week in the region. Our research studies also point to the failure of Punjab's industrial sector to absorb the increasing number of employable youth from rural areas, and the cultural attributes that inhibit educated youth from taking up certain jobs, especially in the farm sector. Those who can, migrate; those who are unable to can be easy prey. We also found out that the current drug epidemic in India has spread to the neighbouring states of Haryana, Himachal, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The purpose of this research is to bring awareness among the common people about the negative impacts of the drug usage in the society. The United Human Rights Commission believes that the solution of this crisis is not possible without interference of the judiciary since many afuent politicians and security ofcers are alleged to be involved. The Supreme Court of India can play a crucial role in enforcing strict laws against drug trafcking and delivering justice to the families who have lost their loved ones in the drug crisis
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Report Submitted by: Prof. Dushyant Kumar Sharma Mr. Girish Chandra Baluni (Team Leaders, UHRF)
PUNJAB, STATE OF INDIA Punjab, a state bordering Pakistan, is the heart of India's Sikh community. Its city of Amritsar, founded in 1577 by Sikh guru Ram Das, is the site of Harmandir Sahib, the holiest gurdwara (Sikh temple). Pilgrims visit its gilded Hari Mandir sanctuary and bathe in the surrounding Pool of Nectar. Also in Amritsar is Durgiana Temple, a Hindu shrine with engraved silver doors.
Land area: 50,362 km² Capital: Chandigarh Population: 27.98 million (2012) Bird: Northern goshawk Colleges and Universities: Punjabi University, Guru Nanak Dev University, Central University of
Punjab and more. Punjab is a state in North India, forming part of the larger Punjab region. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir to the north, Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast, Rajasthan to the southwest, and the Pakistani province of Punjab to the west. The state capital is located in Chandigarh, a Territory and also the capital of the neighboring state of Haryana. The summer residence of the Governor of Punjab is at Shimla. After the partition of India in 1947, the Punjab province of British India was divided between India and Pakistan. The Punjab was divided in 1966 with the formation of the new states of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh alongside the current state of Punjab. Punjab is the only Sikh majority state in India. According to the India State Hunger Index, Punjab has the lowest level of hunger in India.
WHY PUNJAB IS INDIA'S NARCOTIC HAVEN The state is besieged with a severe drug problem and accounted for almost half of all cases registered in India under the narcotics Act. Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in one of his 'Mann Ki Baat' radio speech, envisaged the creation of a drug-free India. That is a challenging proposition that requires overcoming several obstacles, especially the state where narcotic abuse is the most serious: Punjab. Referred to as the granary of India for its agricultural prosperity, Punjab is now besieged by a severe drug problem, which is now roiling its society, economy and politics. Punjab accounted for almost half of all cases registered in India under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) in 2013, up from just 15% in 2009. Punjab also accounted for a third of all undertrials and convictions under NDPS in 2013.
Dark Days Ahead for Punjab In recent years there has been increasing attention in the Indian as well as western media given to the Punjab drug epidemic. This is not a new problem but things are getting worse as almost a whole generation of young people is being lost to recreational drugs. If effective action is not taken to deal with the problem it will mean dark days ahead for this part of the world.
Drug Abuse Statistics for Punjab The extent of drug addiction in Punjab is alarming. Near border areas the rate of heroin abuse among 15 to 25 year olds is as high as 75% – the percentage is 73% in other rural areas throughout the region. A Department of Social Security Development of Women and Children suggested that as many as 67% of rural households in Punjab will have at least one drug addict in the family. There is at least one death due to drug overdose each week in the region.
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Types Of Drugs Being Abused In Punjab The recreational drugs that users in Punjab are most likely to us include: Ÿ Bhuki is similar to a type of wild grass that can be found throughout Punjab. It is possible to
get a mild intoxicating effect from Bhuki, and it is considered a gateway drug because it encourages young people to begin experimenting. Ÿ Heroin addiction is getting the most attention in the media. It is believed that this narcotic is
ooding in from Afghanistan via Pakistan. Ÿ Opium and morphine are other types of opiate that are commonly abused. Ÿ Many brands of toothpaste in the region contain nicotine. There are reports of people
consuming excessive amounts of toothpaste because it is a relatively cheap way to experience nicotine high
The Youth in Punjab Is Addicted to This 'Terror' That's Threatening the State's Future: Over the past decade, Punjab has experienced deceleration of its economy, and has been seeing dwindling positions in the list of prosperous states of the country. Punjab, as of today, lags behind its counterparts, not only in terms of industrial growth but also in the agricultural sector, due to stagnancy. There are no jobs, no future in farming, industry has literally moved out of the state, and deep-rooted corruption has left the state in dismay. Punjabis who are famous for their courage, hard work, honesty, compassion and enterprising approach towards life, are now losing these attributes to the evil drugs. Trans-border terrorism and the Khalistan movement which divided Hindus and Sikhs had been the prime cause for which we heard so many families crying every day in the past. And, today, once again Punjab is crying, due to the insidious demon of narcotics sharpening its claws in the entire realm. It would not be immature to say that this is nothing but a dangerous trap into which the spirited Punjabi youth are being led, on whom the future of the nation depends. At present, more than 75% youth in Punjab is hooked to dangerous drugs like heroin, smack, cocaine and many synthetic drugs. Out of these 75% addicts, about 30% are HIV-positive people. According to the latest report by the Narcotics Control Bureau, Punjab alone has registered 50 percent of the total drug-related cases in the country. After hearing and reading numerous articles and stories on the drug abuse that is ruining this land, we decided to get ď€ rsthand information on what exactly is happening there. Quoting a news report published in the newspaper DNA India, “A random visit to Swami Vivekananda Drug De-Addiction Center in Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, Amritsar and OTS center located inside the Civil Hospital of Tarn Taran revealed the scale of the problem. Impossible to quantify precisely, the situation is undeniably immense and worrisome for the entire country. An overwhelming majority of addicts in these centers belong to the age group of 15 and 35, which is a harsh reminder about the risk of losing the entire generation to drugs. Many of these addicts are incapable of affording the de-addiction treatments and, hence, they continue to consume drugs, because that at least gives them an opportunity to earn money by becoming a peddler.
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So, it would not be wrong to state that it is a vicious cycle, and those who are trapped inside it, don't see any ray of hope.” The drugs are openly sold outside the Civil Hospitals in Amritsar and Tarn Taran, two majorly affected districts of his state. Drugs are easily available in all the medical stores near various schools and colleges in the state. As a matter of fact, people there made a mockery of the situation by asserting that – “In Punjab, it's easier to fetch drugs than water.” You might be surprised to note that more than 70% of the jail inmates across the state are drug addicts. At a time when the nexus between terrorists and drug smugglers in Pakistan has come under a harsh spotlight after the Pathankot airbase attack, a new study by AIIMS has found that opioids worth Rs 7,500 crore are consumed in Punjab every year. Of these, heroin's share is a massive Rs 6,500 crore. Security agencies have so far insisted that Pakistani heroin is not consumed in Punjab; it merely passes through to bigger cities like Delhi. But this study - a rst of its kind survey by the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) at AIIMS - busts the myth. It says that in a population of around 2.77 crore people, there are more than 1.23 lakh heroin-dependent people. Based on the previous studies, Punjab's opioid dependents are four times more than the global average. In effect, not only are the drug smugglers being used to push jihadis into India, they are also creating an army of heroin addicts in Punjab. The study has found that 0.84% (around 2.3 lakh) of the entire state's population is opioid dependent. It takes into account both opium derivatives as well as articial substances that have the same effect as opiates on the nervous system. Previous studies conducted in select districts of Punjab had shown widespread use of synthetic or pharmaceutical opioid drugs. The survey reveals that opioid-dependent people are spending approximately Rs. 20 crore daily on these drugs. On an average a heroin-dependent individual spends about Rs 1,400 per day. The study was conducted between February and April 2015. Data was collected from 3,620 opioid dependents from 10 districts. Among the men aged between 18 and 35 years, four in 100 are opioid dependent, while 15 in 100 could be opioid users. "We must also note that this survey estimates a much higher number of injecting drug users in Punjab (around 75,000) as compared to the existing estimate (under 20,000). Thus there is a clear threat of explosive epidemic of HIV among injecting drug users in Punjab," said the lead investigator and the principal author of the survey, Dr. Atul Ambekar. In this survey, interviews were conducted mostly at the drug-dependence treatment and rehabilitation centres at the government civil hospitals of Punjab. Each respondent interviewed was asked to send three more people whom he knew and who were also opioid dependent. The respondents thus came voluntarily to participate in the survey and were interviewed in government hospitals.
Previous studies in 2008 and 2012 (UNAIDS and United Nations Ofce on Drugs and Crime studies respectively) for Punjab indicated that pharmaceutical injectables were the drugs of choice. The current study shows that heroin is commonest.Drug smuggling cannot occur without the protection of police. And police protection cannot be guaranteed without tacit approval of politicians in power.
Drug Menace In Punjab Reaches Epidemic Proportions It isn't just people from the fringes of society that are addicted, students from “good families” are often caught in the toils of drug addiction. A study by the Guru Nanak Dev University suggested that 70% of young Punjabi men could be addicted to the drugs that are easily available, particularly in areas close to the borders. Children as young as 12 years of age are seen to be involved in the drug trade. Drugs are openly sold and easily available. The reasons for widespread drug addiction in Punjab are many: unemployment and frustrated economic expectations are among the reasons. There is also the fact that pharmaceuticals such as pain relieving opioids and sedatives are easily available from chemists; without prescriptions. An entire generation was lost to insurgency, we will lose another to drugs,' says Professor R. Sandhu of Guru Nanak Dev University. In his report, Sandhu points out that across Malwa, Majha and Doaba districts in Punjab, 70 per cent of the youth are ad dicted to drugs. A multi million drug nexus operating under the noses of the Border Security Force, The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, The Narcotics Control Bureau and the Intelligence Bureau, leaving them as mere bystanders to Punjab's erosion. The yearly consumption of alcohol in Punjab is touching 29 Crore bottles making it one of the highest per capita consumers of alcohol in the world!
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Lethal Transition “It was the transition from poppy husk and opium and its usual suspect users to the lethal heroin or smack, and later synthetic drugs, that rang alarm bells”, says Dr Rajiv Gupta, who heads the Punjab Psychiatrist Association. Experts trace it to the heavy ow of heroin through the then unfenced border with Pakistan in the 1980s. Narco-terrorism's push came after 2000, and the impetus was in 2007 when China and Japan cracked down on heroin smuggling and India emerged as one of the biggest markets. The entry point: Punjab. A study by Prof PS Verma of the Chandigarh-based Institute of Development and Communication points out how India was sandwiched between the “golden triangle” of drugs — Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand — and the “golden crescent” of Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, where opium was produced and smuggled. The year 2007 saw a 10-time increase in the recovery of heroin in Punjab. With more heroin, popularly known as chitta or white powder, being pushed into the state from across the border and trucks full of poppy husk and opium reaching the state from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, the trade assumed large proportions. It was Maqboolpura, a congested colony in Amritsar, that rst pricked the conscience of the region when The Tribune in 1999 reported about the death of 30 householders in three years who had fallen prey to addictive substances and called it the “locality of widows”. Over 3.3 lakh addicts were registered for treatment in various de-addiction centres across Punjab from June 15 to December 15 last year as part of the massive drive against drug abuse. As many as 22,700 jail inmates were also provided treatment, as the police arrested 45,000 persons for narcotic smuggling or possession in 2014 alone.
Here are some of its most shocking observations:
(Image Courtesy : Scoopwhoop.com) Data was collected from 3,620 opioid dependents from 10 districts of the state among men aged between 18 and 35 years between February and April 2015. The interviews were conducted mostly at the drug-dependence treatment and rehabilitation centers at the 10 government civil hospitals of Punjab where respondents voluntarily participated.
SOME OF THE REPORTS PUBLISHED IN THE MEDIA: This following news article was published in The Quint:
Parkash Singh Badal and the 'Secret File' on Punjab's Drug Barons Ÿ In 2007, a list naming the state's drug lords and politicians involved in the nefarious trade
was prepared. Ÿ Sukhbir Singh Badal was kept informed under the instructions of his chief minister-father Ÿ When the list was taken to the CM, Badal senior said 'Such things are not brought in writing,
you could have verbally told me about it'. Ÿ Soon enough, the state's intelligence chief was booted out of the department. Ÿ The list of names – a veritable bomb – has been submitted to the Punjab and Haryana High
Court. “It was an autumn afternoon in 2007 when I stepped into Chandigarh's Sector 2 ofce-cum-residence of the newlyelected Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, armed with a 'Top Secret' document that contained the names of several police ofcers and politicians found to have been directly or indirectly involved in the nefarious cross-border drug trade.” Said Shashi Kant, Former DGP of Punjab. As the dastardly terror attack in Pathankot, preceded six months ago by the strike in Dinanagar in adjoining Gurdaspur district, continue to haunt me, an almost audible whisper of Badal senior torments me. This is what Badal senior said in chaste Punjabi:
Kaka jee, estra dee gallan kagaz te nahi likhianjandi. Tussi eh sab kuch mannu zubani dass sakde see (Such things are not brought in writing, you could have verbally told me about it).
Those words struck me as a thunderclap. My initial reaction was one of complete disbelief.
Punjab May Yet Become Another Mexico It was under the direction of the CM that Sukhbir was kept in the loop. It was all hunky dory till we informed him about the increased inow of drugs, its social cost and the people involved in the smuggling racket. This information, compiled from numerous interrogation reports, eld intelligence, and information received from sister agencies under the Central government as also armed forces etc, startled him. Sukhbir instructed me to take detailed information, including a list with the names of Punjab's top drug smugglers and dons, to the CM. It was a 'Top Secret Personal' four-page, singlespaced list. It was almost a “who's who” of Punjab and contained the names of several politicians, including some sitting and former ministers/MLAs, ofcers belonging to security forces, including the police, civil and other ofcials, civilians and even front organisations. The list was a bomb. A le picture of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal (speaking into a public address system) and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal (to Badal senior's right).
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Badal Senior Turned Pale I took it to the CM and briefed him. He turned pale, the colour draining from his face as he read the list and then came the whispering snarl, “kakeji…” He held on to the list for some time as a hushed silence fell over the room. He then ordered me to leave. Since that meeting, the list has not seen the light of the day. The frequency of meetings with the CM reduced before I Unless destroyed, the list must be tucked away in some le. It remains the most sought after document in Punjab, with even the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking it. Strange statements have emanated from the Punjab government, ranging from 'The list does not exist' to 'It is not traceable' to 'It has been tampered with'. And 'The curious case of a missing list', which sounds like a Sherlock Holmes mystery, goes on. Had the list been acted upon and the drug smugglers 'restrained', almost a generation could have been saved in Punjab. It would not have become a hub of drugs and narcotics trafcking, there would not have been terror inltrations, there would not have been the ISI's 'sleeper cells' and there would have been no Dinanagar and Pathankot.
This following article is an opinion expressed on TheQuint by Mr. Shashi Kant,a former additional director-general (intelligence), Punjab Police: For Punjab Drugs Maa, Border Shrines, Farmhouses Are Secret Hubs 'Bambi' (tubewell) is a popular household word in rural Punjab. Despite the constantly diminishing cultivated area in Punjab, a good chunk still remains green. These bambies dot the rural areas of the states. Besides irrigation, they have also been traditionally coming in handy for sundry nefarious purposes, including sheltering criminals, drinking bouts, debauchery and hiding 'lahan' (the brewed concoction from which illicit liquor is distilled).
All along the border belt, a number of bambieshave also been used as 'safe houses' to hide smuggled contraband, including drugs and arms and ammunition. The turbulent and disturbed past of Punjab bears testimony to this fact. Nothing much has changed even after militancy was crushed in the state.
The Border Safe Houses Ÿ Border along Punjab is dotted by 'safe houses' being conveniently used to hide smuggled
contraband, including drugs, arms and ammunition Ÿ Popular 'safe houses', besides these 'bambies', include 'pathi dumps' abandoned houses
and obscure shrines, which are not in common use Ÿ Contacts in central investigating agencies indicate that perhaps the mazaar, which has
gured in the Pathankot incident, was one such place being used as a 'safe house' Modus Operandi All smuggled goods, drugs, arms and ammunition are never carried to their ultimate destinations in one go. They are always laid off (hidden) in designated safe houses to 'cool off' to prevent the chances of any 'hot pursuit' or detection. They are carried off to the next safe houses, again laid for some time and the process goes on till they reach their desired destination. This is the modus operandi, except in cases where there is 'immediate and urgent need' to push the stuff to the designated place. In such cases often vehicles, including that of rogue security elements, are also used. Popular 'safe houses', besides these 'bambies', include 'pathi dumps' (dumps of dried cow dung which is also used as fuel, 'paily' (a place where hay stock and cow dung is stored), abandoned houses and obscure shrines, which are not in common use.
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Border Shrine a Refuge? Such places exist in abundance all along on the border areas. Contacts in central investigating agencies indicate that perhaps the mazaar, which has ď€ gured in the Pathankot incident, was one such place which was being used as a 'safe house' for quite some time now, under the very nose of the anti-drug/security/police agencies. The truth will of course be revealed once investigations into the Pathankot terror strike are completed, but the central probe agencies are trying to locate other suspicious safe houses, some located in sprawling farmhouses across Pathankot and Gurdaspur districts. The Dinanagar Mystery Central investigating and security agencies have also 'reopened' the mysterious Dinanagar incident. It may be recalled that the Punjab government had not permitted the NIA or other concerned national agencies to step in and probe the attack on Dinanagar police station in July 2015 even though it had national security implications. Questions have also been raised if it was an attempt on part of the state government to shield some powerful people in one or the other way. To put it more explicitly, were some Punjab politicians involved in suppressing the probe into the Dinanagar attack? Punjab's main problem now is narco-terrorism, it's surprising why political leadership is keeping a mum on it. Threat of Narco-Terrorism Indeed, time and investigation will reveal the truth, if it is permitted to be revealed. I have been getting pointed queries from a section of the foreign media as to how come, despite these two blatant terrorist attacks on Indian sovereignty by Pakistan-trained terrorists with explicit collusion of the ISI and a section of Pakistani army/government, the Punjab and Indian governments are not taking any head-on action against Indian drug barons. They are also asking other embarrassing questions, including why the state and central governments are turning blind eye to Punjab's main problem now – narco-terrorism. Is India's security subservient to the petty political interests of Punjab's politicians?
Mobile Phones, Drugs And Used Syringes Seized From Central Jails In Punjab A police team conducted a surprise raid at the central jail in Amritsar without informing senior jail ofcials. GURDASPUR: Narcotics, used syringes and mobile phones were seized by police during raids carried out at central jails in Gurdaspur and Amritsar today. 430 grams of narcotic powder and 6 mobile phones along with SIM cards were seized from inmates of the jail in Gurdaspur, police chief Jagdip Singh Hundal said.Around 200 police personnel and 4 duty magistrates conducted the surprise raid in the wee hours, he said.Police have registered fresh cases against Sawinder Singh, Prabhjit Singh, HiraLal, RajeshwarLal, Rajesh Kumar and Gurmeet Singh, all prisoners. Meanwhile in Amritsar, a police team conducted a surprise raid at the central jail without informing senior jail ofcials. 21 mobile phones including androids, 310 used syringes and used silver foil paper were seized during the raid. The syringes were used for injecting intoxicants and the foil papers for consumption of smack.The connivance of jail ofcials in smuggling the items into prison cannot be ruled out, police said, adding that they were investigating the matter.
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Transfer Of Punjab Ofcer Who Questioned Minister In Drugs Case Revoked Punjab Minister Bikram Singh Majithia was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with alleged money laundering in a drug racket case. CHANDIGARH: The Enforcement Directorate has revoked the transfer of its Assistant Director Niranjan Singh posted at Jallandhar zonal ofce. Mr Singh was transferred to Kolkata on January 16, days after he questioned Punjab minister BikramMajithia, a relative of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, in the Rs. 6,000 synthetic drug racket case. Mr Singh's transfer was challenged by a non-governmental organisation in the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the matter is still being heard. It was alleged that the ofcer was transferred to weaken the case as it was at a crucial stage. The Enforcement Directorate, which investigates nancial crimes, has already led the chargesheet in the case followed by a couple of supplementary chargesheets. Minister Majithia was questioned by the ofcer after his name was mentioned by the main accused in the case, JagdishBhola. The questioning had come in as a huge embarrassment for the ruling ShiromaniAkali Dal and Chief Minister Badal. The younger brother of Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, wife of Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, MrMajithia faces allegations of having links with non-resident Indians accused of international money laundering related to the drugs racket. His name had surfaced in the case after Jagdish, who was arrested last year for drugs trade, alleged in court that it was being run under the minister's patronage and the full knowledge of the state police. He was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate in December. Sources close to MrMajithia however have strongly refuted the allegations saying it's a ploy to malign his reputation adding that it's not the rst time such allegations have been made, curiously just a few days before the Punjab assembly session is set to begin. Punjab Minister BikramMajithia Summoned for Questioning Over Money Laundering in Drugs Case.
Punjab Minister Bikram Majithia Summoned for Questioning Over Money Laundering Drugs Case CHANDIGARH: A political storm is brewing over the Enforcement Directorate's summons to Punjab's cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majithia in connection with a money laundering case. The agency is investigating the international money transaction link in the multi-crore drugs racket detected by the Punjab Police last year. The ED has summoned MrMajithia for questioning on December 26 in Jalandhar.
MrMajithia's name had surfaced after JagdishBhola, a man arrested near Delhi last year for drugs trade, alleged in court that it was being run under the minister's patronage and the full knowledge of the state police. The summons to him is based on the statements of Bhola and BittuAulakh, a local politician from Ajnala, who was also arrested for links with drug smugglers.
The revenue minister is the brother-in-law of Punjab's Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. After the controversy broke, he divested of the NRI Affairs portfolio and had to relinquish the post of the president of Youth Wing of the Akali Dal. MrMajithia had denied the allegations. Today, he said he would cooperate fully with the Enforcement Directorate. The opposition has demanded MrMajithia's immediate resignation. "The Enforcement Directorate can only interrogate on money laundering, but there are more serious charges of abetting," said Partap Bajwa, chief of Punjab state Congress, today. "I appeal to the Prime Minister, if you really want a thorough probe, either the CBI or a sitting judge should monitor entire thing. "He must resign from the ministry and the inquiry should be shifted out of Punjab immediately," said senior advocate and Aam Aadmi Party member HS Phoolka. Reacting to the summons, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said, "Summons doesn't mean a person is a criminal". But earlier this year, MrBadal had sacked cabinet colleague Sarwan Singh Phillaur after his son was summoned by the ED in the same case.Drugs became a key issue during the Lok Sabha polls, when the Opposition Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party had raked up the alleged involvement of politicians from the ruling party. Though the ED had been accused of dragging its feet on issuing summons to MrMajithia ever since the Narendra Modi government came to power, its move is being seen as another sign of deteriorating ties between the Akali Dal and the BJP.
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ROLE OF CORRUPTION The possibility of the involvement of some security personnel with the smuggling gang cannot be ruled out as there have been inputs in the past about some elements being linked to the establishment of the drugs racket, the sources said. A detailed probe and questioning of some people involved in the racket could unearth the conspiracy, they added. Speculation is rife that the heavy arms and ammunition used by the terrorists in the attack were sent over from Pakistan much before the terrorists crossed the International Border. There is a high probability that the arms were sent through the drugs racket and dumped at a designated spot from where the terrorists collected these after crossing the border through a route used by the smugglers, sources said."Smuggling network in Punjab has to be probed," they said. An analysis of the factors responsible for this death trap and debt trap for the people of Punjab reveals that it has been rooted in several factors – economic, political, geographical and social – each contributing in their own way – to destroy the fabric of the state. But one thing that surprises us is that the rules who are responsible for welfare of the state and its people, are patronising the poisonous business and running the life of the millions. Political patronage given to drugs during elections is shameful. At a time when drug abuse should have been a raging social issue, the leaders from the ruling parties, use it to swing votes. Ofcial corruption has worsened the problem – anecdotal evidence indicates Indian police and lawmakers are complicit in drug smuggling and distribution, netting millions of dollars in ill-gotten proceeds. The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act 1985 is not being implemented in Punjab to control drug abuse.
In the last General Elections, candidates across the state had faced uncomfortable questions over the perceived involvement of the political machinery in the distribution of drugs. The fact is drug use is rising, especially in the case of heroin and narcotic injectables. This is due to the easy availability of these drugs. What is required is vigorous antidrug strategies must be deployed by government and other stake holders. Politics is a part of the drugs problem in Punjab. Police investigations have uncovered links between political leaders, businessmen and drug smugglers. From the manner in which politicians were scurrying for cover from the anger of the people in the general elections over the drug problem, it's clear that the tough and aggressive Punjabi has had enough. What is worrying sane elements though is whether this anger will be manifested only at the hustings or whether it could be worse. During the terrorism period, a study found 80 per cent of the boys who had become terrorists were unemployable and found a sense of self-worth in the gun. The same hopelessness is among Punjab's youth today.
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GEOGRAPHICAL CONDITIONS India is geographically situated between the countries of Golden Triangle and Golden Crescent and is a transit point for narcotic drugs produced in these regions to the West. In India opium is grown under ofcial control of Narcotics Commissioner in three states namely Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. It is exported to foreign countries for medicinal purposes. Indian opium is considered best in world. Turkey & Australia are the other licit opium growing countries in the world. A part of the licit opium enters the illicit market in different forms. Besides, there is illicit cultivation of opium in the hill tracks of some states. There is a moderately sized chemical industry producing precursor materials for lawful purposes.
The illicit cultivation of opium as well as the precursor chemicals can be used for manufacture of heroin. However, there is a great price differential between India and the West. A Kilogram of Heroin that goes for a hundred thousand Rupees in India may fetch Rupees ten million in the international market. Illicit drug trade in India has centered around ve major substances, namely heroin, hashish, op i um, herb a l ca nna b i s a nd methaqualone. The Indo-Pak border has traditionally been most vulnerable to drug trafcking. Drugs trafcking through India consists of Hashish and Heroin from Pakistan, Hashish from Nepal, White Heroin from Myanmar and Heroin from Bangladesh. In the early eighties, the Border State of Punjab became affected with narcoterrorism with the smuggling of narcotic drugs and arms from across the border. This was also the time when drug Maa emerged in Golden Crescent countries. There were a number of seizures of a mixed consignment of narcotic drugs and arms in Punjab. In 1996, 64 % of the heroin seized was from the Golden Crescent. Although opium production is strictly under Government control in India, illicit poppy plantations have been reported in some places. Drug addiction in India has not assumed such a serious magnitude as in some of the western countries, but there are no grounds for complacency. There have been reports of drug use among the students of universities in Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and Chandigarh. The society does not agitate too much with consumption of Bhang, crushed leaves of the cannabis plant. It is customary in some places to consume Bhang on the popular festival of Holi. There is no such tolerance for charas or ganja which are derived from the same cannabis plant. The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 deals with the offences of Drug trafcking. Section 21 is the penal provision which stipulates that whoever manufactures, possesses, sells, purchases, transports, imports inter-state, exports inter-state or uses any
manufactured drug shall be punishable with Rigorous Imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than ten years but which may extend to twenty years and shall also be liable to ne. In repeat offences, there is provision for death penalty too. The Prevention of Illicit Trafc in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988 provides for detention of persons connected with illicit drug trafcking upto two years. An ofcer of the rank of Joint Secretary to the Government, specially empowered under the Act, can issue orders for detention of the any person (including a foreigner) with a view to preventing him from engaging in illicit trafc of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. On an average about 50 persons are detained under the Act every year. There were 18273 cases registered under the NDPS Act in 1998 which was an increase of 31.8 % over 1988, but a decrease of 4.2 % over the quinquennial average of 1993-1997. 21386 persons were arrested under the NDPS Act of which major work was done by Narcotics Control Bureau, a central agency for dealing with cases of drug trafcking. It has registered 11330 cases in 1998 of which 5809 cases were for Ganja, 2713 were for Heroin and 1771 cases were for Hashish. 62591 kgs of Ganja, 8478 kgs of Hashish and 597 kgs of Heroin were seized. During 1998, 12601 persons were arrested by Narcotics Control Bureau, which included 95 foreigners. 11612 persons were prosecuted in a court of law, 2782 persons were convicted and 5712 persons were acquitted. 16.9 % of drug cases pending in trial were disposed by the courts during 1998. Property worth Rupees 23.85 million was forfeited and worth Rupees 30.64 million was frozen. In a recent case, the Government of Orissa (State Government) conscated property worth over Rupees thirty million of drug lord Mohammed Azad Parvez of Balasore, Orissa which included an ice factory, a saw mill, a market complex, a cloth store, three residential buildings and three acres of land.
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The accused was apprehended by Narcotics Control Bureau in 1998 on charge of heroin trafcking alongwith his wife and associates. Financial investigation was conducted by the agency into the movable and immovable properties under Chapter V-A of the NDPS Act, which led to conscation. India is signatory to three UN Conventions on Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances held in 1961, 1971 and 1988. India is a party to the United Nations Convention against Illicit Trafc in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988. Government of India has entered into bilateral agreement and Memorandum of Understanding with a number of countries. The countries with which India has signed bilateral agreement for drug control are USA, UK, Afghanistan, Mauritius, Russian Federation, Myanmar, Zambia, UAE, Iran, Egypt, Bulgaria, Romania, and Mauritius.
DRUGS AND TERRORISM ARE RUINING PUNJAB Use of narcotics originally started as a medicine where it was given to people in small amounts to make them sleep or feel less pain, however, now it is being used as a weapon of proxy war where it has also been used to incapacitate a population to destroy it economically and physically as was the case of Opium War in China. Since early times, people in the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent have been known to use opium both as a mind-altering drug and as an analgesic. Its preparations are part of the traditional as also the allopathic systems of medicine. In tune with the growing international awareness of its potential to produce dependence and in compliance with treaty obligations, poppy cultivation has now been controlled for several decades. Terrorism is the ultimate violent form of organised crime. The major difference with "ordinarily" organised crime is in the aim of terrorism that is to bring about political or ideological changes by using violent means and not self-enrichment. Most of the terrorist organisations of today are run like an army. These organisations need the three "M"s i.e. Men, Munition and Money for them to survive and grow. Al Qaeda, ISIS, are the globally marked terrorist organisations besides a vast number existing in Afghan-Pak region.
Relationship Between Drugs And Terrorism There is a symbiotic relationship between drugs trafcking and terrorism which at rst sight look like two totally different forms of crime. However, the two most often exist in combination, somewhat like a horse and carriage. Sponsoring terrorism is an expensive affair and money for killing, kidnapping and sabotage does not come through legal means but from illegal and unofcial channels. Terrorism needs huge sums of money to carry out its operation. Since it is difcult to acquire that sum from ofcial and legal sources, terrorists approach drug syndicates and underworld dons for cooperation. The criminal dons and drug smugglers too nd the proposal attractive because it gives them an opportunity to collaborate with aspirants of political power (terrorists) and thereby gives them access to politics in due course of time. The market value of narcotic drugs is much higher than any consumer product in the world. It fetches voluminous amounts of money and that too in hard cash. For instance, one kilogram of heroin from the Golden Crescent region covering Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran that costs approximately one lakh rupees in South Asia fetches nearly a crore of rupees in the US market. The gure varies from place to place, which further depends on the law and order situation. It is worth noting that Pakistani heroin and Colombian marijuana are the most demanded narcotic drugs in the US and the European countries. It is because of the enormous money involved in the illicit drug trade that terrorists have established links with drug trafckers, smugglers and underworld dons to meet the expenses for 'Operation terrorism'. Afghanistan and NWFP region of Pakistan are the biggest producers of opium in the world, which generate huge sums of money in the international market. The drug proceeds are used by the Pakistan government and the non-government agencies to destabilise India. Pakistan is a conduit for Afghanistan drugs and is the epicentre of terrorism. These two issues are vital in the regional politics of South Asia and the security environment of India. Afghanistan is the biggest illicit opium producing (4,600 of the world's total 6000 metric tons per annum) country in the world. Poppy cultivation is done in 18 out of the total 31 provinces of Afghanistan. The Pakistani Drug Syndicate runs a parallel economy in connivance with political and military establishments to destabilise India. According to the UNDCP report, Pakistan's heroin industry in terms of turnover is estimated to be approximately 5 per cent of its GDP.
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Pakistan As Narcotic Developer And Exporter Pakistan has waged a proxy war against India to avenge defeat in Bangladesh since the 1970s. It uses narcotics as an important source of income for funding these operations using terrorism as a weapon of war. Till 1978, the opium produced in this region was consumed locally and hence was not a threat. Soviet invaded Afghanistan in 1978 followed by the USPak joint counter-intervention. After Indo-Pak War in 1971, poppy was turned into a lethal weapon of silent war against India by Pakistan. Cultivation of poppy and cannabis was encouraged during the military dictatorship of Zia-ul-Haq to nance terrorist activities in India. General Zia's support for cultivation of narcotic drugs gave a new dimension to international drug trafcking and terrorism in India. In this process, however, he failed to anticipate its repercussions on Pakistan itself. Heroin addiction spread like an epidemic during his martial administration. During this time, drug trafckers operated freely and became billionaires within a short span of time and organised themselves as syndicates on the same lines as the Latin American drug barons. They established contacts in the law enforcement agencies, funded political parties, used economic platforms and bribed ofcers to maintain production and supply of narcotic drugs in the international market. General Zia's involvement in drug trafcking came to light only after his death with the Minister of State for Narcotics, MianMuzaffar Shah, Vice president of Government owned Habib Bank close to the wife of General Zia ulHaq and numerous high ranking ofcials revealing how Pakistani drug syndicates grew under his patronage. After the death of Zia -Ul - Haq in a plane crash in August 1988, GhulamIshaq Khan, a close associate of Zia, also kept his interests alive in the drug trade. He and the Chief of Army Staff General Aslam Beg worked together for the growth of the drug industry at the Pak-Afghan border. In the name of the Islamic Bomb, they generated money from Arab countries and promoted growth of narcotic drugs in the Golden Crescent. Another equally important drug dealer was appointed by Benazir as Minister of state for Tribal Affairs who was convicted for smuggling of opium and hashish from Khyber Agency. All this goes to show the involvement of Political and military class actively in the drug trade which is continuing uninterrupted even today. Heroin production in Afghanistan is expected to touch record levels of 550600 tonne, of which around 10 tonne is likely to pass through Indian cities. According to Indian estimates, pure heroin costs Rs 1-2 lakh per kg in Pakistan. The cost doubles to Rs 3 lakh a kg after it crosses the border to pay for the risks involved. From Punjab to Delhi, the cost reaches Rs 8-10 lakh a kg and further doubles to Rs 16-20 lakh a kg in Mumbai. But recent police seizures have pushed prices of drugs, originating in Afghanistan and routed through Pakistan, to sky-high levels and driven addicts who cannot afford their daily x to de-addiction centres. According to NCB experts, a national anti- narcotic task force should be formed to tackle drugs for Punjab with a comprehensive statistical survey of addiction in the state.
Modus Operandi Of Drug Racketeers Several ofcials of Punjab's revenue department as well as the police force elaborated the modus operandi of drug racketeers and their network which spreads across political parties and the police force itself. The ofcials spoke on the condition of anonymity fearing reprisals as they believe the tentacles of the drug syndicate run deep into state machinery and major political parties Villages of NarotJaimal Singh, Tash, Pharwal, Bamiyal are some of the places which serve as bases where Chitta is transported and stored briey before its subsequent distribution. How they are brought inside Indian Territory is another story all together. The International Border (IB), which divides India and Pakistan, falls on massive tracts of farming land. There are patches of farming land owned by Indians which fall on both sides of IB. Technically the farming land on the other side of IB is Indian and farmers are even issued a special ID to work on the elds. "These farmers can grow crops which do not grow more than two feet in height. They are accompanied to other side of border by BSF jawans in the morning and in the evening they are brought back," said a village sarpanch. This is where Punjab's drug story starts When the drug trade was in its inception, Pakistani drug peddlers would use simple methods of transportation. An Indian drug peddler would wait for the arrival on this side of the border, the package would be thrown over the fence or the same would be handed over after cutting through the electric fencing. In some places where the border is completely porous, package would be simply handed over.
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But as trade grew, the methods of transportation of Chitta also became sophisticated. While the existence of these pipes are not uncommon knowledge in the rural parts of Punjab, a stringent watch over the same after the terror attack had many in the vicinity believe that the same pipes were used by the JeM militants to cross over. A Punjab police ofcial of deputy superintendent rank conrmed the same but refused to delve whether or not the pipes are still being used by drug maa's. The ofcer also did not elaborate on the size of these pipes when asked if they were large enough for people to travel. Close links to senior Punjab politicians An NIA ofcial when asked about the same said their investigators knew about the pipes but refused to conrm if the same were used by the JeM militants to cross over. The story does not end with these pipes. In fact, there are many in the revenue department who claimed that hundreds of acres of land in and around the IB are owned by persons who serve as a front to drug kingpins some of whom have close links to senior Punjab politicians and ofcials of the police force. In fact back in 2002, a relative and one neighbour of Sucha Singh Langah, former Cabinet Minister of Punjab were arrested which was followed by his own arrest. In an alleged case of disproportionate assets, Langah was accused of purchasing benami land in the name of both accused. He was convicted in 2015. Benami (nameless) properties along the Indo-pak border Many here believe that buying benami properties is another strategy for drug syndicate to carry out business. In one case a family of three sisters and a brother, were found to be at loggerheads with'powerful politicians of the area' but the same family could not be traced. The phone numbers went unanswered. The kingpins have become smarter. The land is given to farmers to maintain and if someone tries to trail these kingpins using these land deeds, they will reach a dead end."
Isi, Pak Army And Narcotics The ISI is the key to intelligence services in Pakistan. It holds political clout and is the most important cell in decision-making. The drug connection of the army and intelligence services came to light when at the instance of Robert Oakley, the US Ambassador to Pakistan, Benazir ordered investigation into the BCCI (Bank of Credit and Commerce) scandal. The US analysts have now woken up to the problem of narco-terrorism in this region. They were the rst to use it during 1970s and 80s against the Soviet expansionism. As a matter of fact, the US government encouraged drug trafcking to raise funds for Mujahideen ghting against the Soviets. LandiKotal, the capital of NWFP, is the main centre for business transaction of opium, heroin and weapons. With the help of ISI agents and army personnel, several reneries were set up to produce heroin, which is in great demand in the Western market. Ever since the ISI and the army came into the picture, opium rening techniques have become more sophisticated in this region. Chinese chemists were hired for rening laboratories at LandiKotal and Derra to improve the quality and production. The very fact that the American and the European markets are ooded with heroin from Afghanistan and Pakistan reemphasises growth of the drug industry in this region. This cannot be possible without the collaboration of the ISI and the army. The ISI uses narcotic trafcking because terrorism incurs heavy expenditure with Pakistan not economically sound enough to siphon huge amounts from the state exchequer. The eye witness accounts of terrorists and drug trafckers arrested in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and other parts of India also conrm that the Pakistan government has been using them to achieve its foreign policy goals in India especially in Jammu and Kashmir. This fact was substantiated by the recent International Narcotics Board (INCB) report, which expressed concern over shortage of morphine, (a derivative of opium) an essential medicine for patients in spite of record production of opium in Afghanistan (4,600 metric tons) in 1999.
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Pakistan is the immediate source of terrorism in India. The nexus between narcotics and terrorism has become a grave threat to India because of India's proximity and continuous strained relationship with Pakistan. Narcotic drug trafď€ cking from and through Pakistan and its diabolic alliance with politics, the army and the underworld operators, mainly the narcotic drug syndicates is quite worrisome. This unholy alliance in Pakistan is the major concern for India's security. The narcotic funding of terrorists through ISI has gone to dangerous proportions where even the prime Minister of Pakistan sometimes appears helpless. As a result, terrorism through narcotic funds has made Pakistan a failed state and peace negotiations with it have become nearly impossible. Neither Political leadership nor the army can be trusted. Increasing number of incidents of cross border drugs smuggling in last few years has raised many questions on the intentions of Pak. Is it just drugs abuse? Or a planned attack on the nation. On 24 Jan 2014, nearly 100 Kgs of drugs were seized from a truck hailing from Muzzafarabad. The cost of the seized drugs was around 1,000 crores. In two separate incidents in May 2014, 10 and 25 Kgs of cocaine was seized by Baramulla police.
Targetting Punjab - A Well Planned Strategy Punjab has been referred to as the granary of India for its agricultural prosperity, but is now besieged by a severe drug problem, which is roiling its society, economy and politics. The single biggest reason behind the drug problem in Punjab is the easy availability of narcotics in the state from across the border.
The growing popularity of brown sugar/smack/heroin can be attributed to Punjab's close proximity to the Golden Crescent region covering Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran. These three countries are, collectively, the world's largest producers of opium. Punjab shares a 553 km border with Pakistan, which is used as an entry point to smuggle narcotics into India. For almost three decades, Punjab's drug problem was allowed to degenerate into the present state of affairs that have now reached a breaking point. All this did not come to this stage suddenly. During the late 70s, when Pakistan was licking its wounds post liberation of Bangladesh, the easy availability of poppy via Afghanistan and the rise of fundamentalists in Punjab provided Pakistan the opportunity it was looking for to get back at its adversary. Initially, the drug trade till the mid 80s was used to ď€ nance the terrorism movement by supply of weapons and training the various "Pro-Khalistan" groups. The powers in Pakistan were of the view that it was a matter of time that the "Radcliffe Line" separating the two Punjabs would move eastwards. Though Indian government did take some concrete measures like increasing deployment of SFs on the IB, and creation of the electric fence in 1980s, but huge on the border gaps could never be plugged. Towards the late 1980s, Pakistan's ISI, which by now had well established proteges on both sides of the borders, started using the Punjab route for drug smuggling in a major way. It used its vast network of double agents and petty smugglers who were more than willing to be part of this lucrative trade. With deep pockets to invest in smuggling, which people in the two Punjabs had, compared to border residents in Gujrat, Rajasthan or Jammu & Kashmir, the out of work smugglers due to stabilised gold prices, gravitated towards drugs, as it gave them a new life. Though till late 1980, even during the peak of Khalistan movement in Punjab, the secessionist militants initially blocked the drugs trade, it was the easy money and ISI pressure which made most of them later turn a blind eye to drugs ow in exchange for arms and ammunition from Pakistan. Narco-Terrorism had hit Punjab and it was a matter of time before it was going to evour everything in its path.
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Impact Of Narco-terrorism On Punjab There were a total of 136 terrorist attacks in India since 1990. The northern state of Punjab has witnessed 34 terror attacks over the last 27 years, the highest nationwide, according to government data. Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi have witnessed 27 and 18 attacks, respectively, during the same period, according to data released by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The latest two attacks in Gurdaspur and Pathankot were with outside support as terrorists from Pakistan attacked after crossing the international border. BSF agrees that there is certainly a nexus between terrorism and narcotics since the terrorists are assisted and aided by drug smugglers as in the present case of Pathankot. Drug smuggling from Pakistan into Punjab is continuously on the rise. According to BSF data, there has been a noticeable increase seen in narcotics smuggling, especially heroin. In 2012, 289 kgs of heroin were seized, while in 2013, 322 kgs were seized. As far as fake Indian currency is concerned, the seizure last year was around Rs 52.04 lakh, while in 2012 it stood at Rs 46.21 lakh. But, with the arrest of BSF men involved in guarding the border for allegedly helping cross border smugglers sneak in heroin and ammunition, the premier security agencies role has come under the scanner and a lot of uncomfortable questions are being asked. There is a recreational factor associated with drug abuse with the majority of addicts admitting they started taking drugs under pressure from their peers who act as magnets in initiating them into this deadly routine. "Once hooked, many of them admitted to spending around Rs 1,400 per day on buying these opiates," DrAmbedkar of NDDTC adds. The widespread drug abuse in northern India can be attributed to the easy availability of drugs which young people consume for 'recreational' purposes.
“The most effective treatment is the Opiote Substitution Therapy which has been endorsed by WHO (the World Health Organisation), the United Nations and by the Indian Psychiatric Society," says DrAmbedkar. "This requires the user to take a course of opioate medicines over a course of several years. These are not very expensive and cost between Rs 30 and Rs 50 a day, but have to be taken for years." "Most addicts believe all they need to do is to join a de-addiction centre for a few days and they will get cured," he adds. "This is not going to happen. The state and central governments must allocate adequate resources to ensure they receive sustained treatment." The other source of concern is the apprehension that increasing drug use will cause an HIV/AIDS epidemic. The consumption of narcotics by youth in Punjab has led to increase in its smuggling through the 554-km of international border, along two major rivers - Ravi and Satluj, which cross over to Pakistan. Due to meandering course of these rivers, fencing is not possible along 17 kms, which provides easy access to Pakistani smugglers into India. The BSF at the fenced Indo-Pak border constantly monitors the region and employs various technologies for surveillance and nabbing of smugglers. Yet, these maa nd various methods to sneak through large quantities of narcotics into India. It is also the most sought-after by smugglers to smuggle heroin, poppy husk, fake Indian currency, arms and ammunition from Pakistan. According to sources, the cultivation of poppy crop is going unchecked in the absence of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces in Afghanistan. So, drugs produced and processed in Afghanistan nd their way across Pakistan to India, in connivance with the local farmers.
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According to BSF ofcials, the locals and farmers living along the Indo-Pak border in Punjab are easy targets for the Pakistani smugglers who use them to smuggle these across the border. The farmers are also lured into this trade due to windfall gains and to make quick money. Although all agricultural equipment of farmers are thoroughly checked by the BSF, some of them manage to sneak into the Indian Territory. A senior BSF ofcial said Pakistani couriers easily develop relations with farmers and lure them with huge commission for supplying the consignment. The BSF ofcials maintained that Pakistani mobile phone Sim cards also help farmers in safely communicating with the Pakistani smugglers. Some farmers have agricultural land on the other side of the fence as well. Since there is electric fence, the package is pushed into a 10 to 12 ft plastic pipe, which is hung in the fence, so that it can be retrieved by the Indian smugglers. This modus operandi is employed in at least 90-95 % cases. At times, drugs are found abandoned in elds across the fence or thrown over by Pakistani smugglers and later on collected by Indian smugglers. A large number of drugs are subsequently sold to users by an extensive network of dealers. Besides dealers, one of the biggest sources of drugs in Punjab is local chemists, who sell over-thecounter prescription drugs. A considerable number of these shops, especially in rural areas, are unlicensed and sell drugs to users without prescriptions. Another matter of concern is the involvement of high-prole government ofcials in the drug trade, including high prole politicians in what is being described as a Rs 6,000 crore drug racket which indicates political patronage of the drug industry. In two yrs(ie. 2013 and 2014), at least 70 personnel of Punjab Police were found to be working in collusion with trans-border narcotic smuggling networks. In 2014 alone, 13 police ofcials including a DSP rank ofcial were sacked for terror links. Youth unemployment, too, is an important reason for the growth in drug trafcking and use in Punjab. What is alarming is that the armed forces, to which the state of Punjab was a major contributor, is not nding the right quality of youth to be enrolled.
Narco-terrorism And India's Security Narcotic trafcking, the phenomenon, which started as an organised cross border crime has now emerged as a threat to nation states because of its diabolic alliance with terrorist groups. The economy of Pak-Afghan frontier is dependent on the production of poppy and cannabis. The drug money is being oated in an unorganised but systematic manner into the Indian money market thereby damaging nancial institutions. Therefore, the illicit drug trafcking from Afghanistan and Pakistan threatens both the polity and the economy of India. Apparently, this demands serious consideration from both the policy makers and the law enforcement agencies before it gets too late for action. Sponsoring terrorism is an expensive affair and money for killing, kidnapping and sabotage does not come through proper channels. It comes through illegal and unofcial channels. The market value of narcotic drugs is much higher than any consumer products in the world. It fetches voluminous amounts of money and that too in hard cash. For instance, one kilogram of heroin from the Golden Crescent that costs approximately one lakh rupees in South Asia fetches nearly a crore of rupees in the US market. The gure varies from place to place, which further
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Trafcking And Terrorism The hypothesis that drug trafcking funds terrorist activities needs logical explanation and that logic is based on certain facts and gures. These are: Ÿ The economy of narcotics producing countries is dependent on the illegal drugs trade.
Unless they have an alternative economy the illicit narcotic drugs trade would continue irrespective of strict legislation. Afghanistan is the biggest illicit opium producing (4,600 per annum, 1999 of the world's total 6000 metric tons) country in the world. Poppy cultivation is done in 18 out of the total 31 provinces of Afghanistan. The cultivation is done in an organised form under the Taliban controlled administration. Ÿ
Narcotic drugs are the most lucrative commodity that generate quick money without paper work. The business transaction is done in hard cash and no document is left as evidence for legal action. Ÿ
Ÿ The drug proceeds are laundered through
numerous legal and illegal nancial institutions and petty business enterprises. Terrorism needs huge sums of money to carry out its operation. Since it is difcult to acquire that sum from ofcial and legal sources, terrorists approach drug syndicates and underworld dons for cooperation. Ÿ
Ÿ The criminal dons and drug smugglers too nd the proposal attractive because it gives
them an opportunity to collaborate with aspirants of political power (terrorists) and thereby gives them access to politics in due course of time. The criminalisation of politics is the result of the same nexus. Ÿ The Pakistani Drug
Syndicate runs a parallel economy in connivance with political and military establishments to destabilise India. According to the UNDCP Report Pakistan's heroin industry in terms of turnover is estimated
at approximately Rs. 74 billion i.e. 5 per cent of it's GDP of 1992-93, which is 20-25 per cent of the total estimated shadow economy. It also reports that Pakistan earned US $1.5 billion from export of heroin in 1992. These are some vital facts on the basis of which the nexus between narcotics and terrorism and India's threat perception could be examined. Since Pakistan is the immediate source of terrorism in India, it is relevant to examine the narcotic drug trafď€ cking scenario in Pakistan and its diabolic alliance with politics, the army and the underworld operators, mainly the narcotic drugs syndicates. This unholy alliance in Pakistan is the major concern for India's security.
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DRUG MAFIA IN PAKISTAN Narcotics have been an important source of income for tribals at the Pak-Afghanistan border since time immemorial. It did not emerge as a socio-economic and political problem until 1978. Opium produced in this region was consumed locally. No one cared or thought about it as a threat. The problem started with the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan followed by the USPak joint counter-intervention. Cultivation of poppy and cannabis was encouraged during the military dictatorship of Zia-ul-Haq to nance terrorist activities in India. General Zia's support for cultivation of narcotic drugs gave a new dimension to international drug trafcking and terrorism in India. His target was to destabilize India. But in the process he failed to anticipate its repercussions on Pakistan. Heroin addiction spread like an epidemic during his martial administration. The UNDCP report conrms that there were 1.5 to 1.9 million drug addicts in Pakistan in 1993. The regime, which was popular for its iron hand did not control free distribution of heroin and hashish in universities and colleges in Peshawar, Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi where these drugs were cheaply available for Rupees 15 to 60 per packet depending on their purity. During this time drug trafckers operated freely and became billionaires within a short span of time and organized themselves as syndicates on the same lines as the Latin American drug barons. They established contacts in the law enforcement agencies, funded political parties, used economic platforms and bribed ofcers to maintain production and supply of narcotic drugs in the international market. General Zia's involvement in drug trafcking came to light only after his death when the Minister of State for Narcotics, MianMuzaffar Shah revealed that Pakistani drug syndicates grew under the patronage of General Zia. Raza Qureshi, a Pakistan drug trafcker who was arrested by the Norwegian Police at Oslo's Fornebu Airport in 1984, exposed Zia's drug connection. The Norwegian Police disclosed three names of Pakistani nationals-Tahir Butt, MunawarHussain and Hamid Hussainpatronised by General Zia. The Norwegian Police visited Islamabad to investigate the matter and indicted these three for drug crimes. But the Pakistan government did not arrest them because of their political connections. Finally, when the Norwegian government complained against inaction by the law enforcement agencies and threatened diplomatic action, these three were arrested. One of the culprits, Hamid Hussain was not only the vice president of Government owned Habib Bank, but was as close as a son to the wife of General Zia ulHaq. He handled Zia's account and used banking channels to launder drug proceeds. The most startling revelation that conrmed Zia's drug connection was the case of one of his ADCs, whose name was not
disclosed. The ADC concealed heroin in 100 precious lamps to be gifted by General Zia to the delegates at a special session of the UN General Assembly. General Zia suddenly changed his programme to travel via Iran and Iraq. In the process of shifting his baggage one of the lamps broke spreading heroin at New York Airport. Apparently the customs ofď€ cial checked all the lamps which were ď€ lled with heroin and seized them. The former Chief Minister and Governor of NWFP, Lt. General FazleHaque is another important drug dealer who dominated Pakistani drug syndicates. Popularly known as the Noriega of Pakistan, Haque was responsible for promoting growth of the drug industry in the Swat Valley of NWFP. He successfully organised transshipment of heroin from Pakistan to the international market through business contacts. Obviously during Zia's tenure drugs played an important role in decisionmaking. After his sudden death in a plane crash in August 1988, GulamIshaq Khan, a close associate of Zia, took over. An IsmailiPathan from NWFP civil services he rose to prominence during Zia's time. His involvement in narcotics started after he joined the provincial civil service of NWFP and became a close associate of General Zia. He and the Chief of Army Staff General Aslam Beg worked together for the growth of the drug industry at the Pak-Afghan border. His drug connection came to light during the investigation of the biggest bank fraud in the world namely, the BCCI. Aslam Beg and Ishaq Khan became very close and strongly advocated the idea of Pakistan's decision to join the race for nuclear power. In the name of the Islamic Bomb they generated money from Arab countries and got away from the drug money laundered by BCCI. It is relevant to note that they founded an institute called GulamIshaq Khan Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, which was the main recipient of funds from BCCI. In the name of funds, for a nuclear bomb, the duo promoted growth of narcotic drugs in the Golden Crescent. The situation, however, did not change when Benazir Bhutto came to power. She exposed General Zia because it suited her political agenda. Her husband Zardari is well known for his criminal connections and her government was dismissed on corruption charges. In so far as Benazir's Peoples Party (PPP) is concerned, during personal interaction with Pakistani prisoners under NDPS Act languishing in Jammu Central Jail, the author was told that the PPP members were directly involved in the drugs trade. The prisoner himself was a cousin of PPP's Lahore President. Lahore is one of the centres for narcotic drugs trade in Pakistan.
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Hazi Iqbal Beg is another important Pakistani drug dealer with political connections. A Lahore based landlord and owner of innumerable business enterprises he organised a powerful drug
syndicate. Beg along with his partners, Sohail But (brother-in-law of Nawaz Sharif) and Shaukat Ali Bhatti were elected members of the Punjab Legislative Assembly on the ticket of Islamic JahmuriIttehad (IJI), a political party formed by an ISI Chief General Hamid Gul. Nawaz Sharif maintained close association with Beg and helped him acquire denationalised industrial units including the Muslim Commercial Bank where he (Sharif) is a benami partner. Beg continued to nurture his ties with the Pakistani premier and simultaneously funded election of Mehraj Khalid of PPP who later became Chief Minister of Punjab. Beg thus remained loyal to both Sharif and Benazir. After the fall of Benazir's government he was charge-sheeted for narcotic drugs smuggling. However, his close association with Sharif got him released on bail. Another equally important drug dealer Malik Waris Khan Afridi, was appointed by Benazir as Minister of state for Tribal Affairs. He was elected on a PPP ticket from Khyber Agency (N-33, Tribal Areas VII) in 1988. His commitment to PPP was so strong that he tried to save her government by bribing members against the no conď€ dence motion tabled by Nawaz Sharif in 1989. After the fall of the Benazir government he was convicted for smuggling of opium and hashish from Khyber Agency.
These are some of the many instances of the drug syndicate's control over Pakistan politics. There are hundreds of political leaders into drug business in Pakistan. The very fact that South West Asia (Pak-Afghan) is the biggest supplier of heroin to the international market and that Pakistan earns US $1.5 billion (UNDCP, 1993 estimate) from export of reď€ ned heroin substantiate that the narcotic drugs trade goes on under the nose of government law enforcement agencies. Since political leaders are beneď€ ciaries of the international drug trade, it is not possible to keep intelligence and army away from the scene especially in the light of the fact that these two play a signiď€ cant role in Pakistan politics.
40
Funding Terrorism In India The need to track the sources for funding terrorism was realised way back in 1986 when the UN General Assembly for the rst time drafted a Convention against Recruitment, Use, Finance, and Training of Mercenaries in 1986. This convention was adopted without a vote on December 4, 1989. Article 5 of the convention emphasised that member states 'shall not recruit, use, nance or train mercenaries'. Furthermore in 1994 the General Assembly called attention to the growing connection between drug trafckers and mercenaries. Recalling these resolutions, the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism was adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 9, 1999 without a vote. This convention needs ratication by 22 member states for enforcement. The Union Cabinet of the Government of India has already approved the convention on June 20 for ratication. The signicant aspect of this convention is that it establishes nancing terrorism as an independent crime. It does not require that an act of terrorism actually be committed. The convention makes it explicit that every time money passes through the territory of a state party, an international crime has been committed, which can be prosecuted. It also recognises that proceeds from illicit activities like production of opium and small arms trade nd their way to the hands of terrorists through a transnational 'show banking' system. These developments are important for India's security. India has been the victim of statesponsored terrorism for the last two decades. There is not even an iota of doubt that the Pakistan government in collaboration with the ISI uses proceeds of illicit narcotic drugs and small arms trade to fund terrorism in India. Pakistan also aims to create ethnic division in the social fabric of the country by exploiting the religious sentiments and economic backwardness of Muslims in the bordering states of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and other states. The ISI often allures the poverty ridden Muslim population of these states, at times others as well, into illicit narcotic drugs trade to fund terrorist activities in India.
This fact could also be substantiated by the recent International Narcotics Board (INCB) report, which expresses concern over shortage of morphine, (a derivative of opium) an essential medicine for patients, in spite of record production of opium in Afghanistan (4,600 metric tons) in 1999. One of the reasons for the shortage of this medicine is the bad crop during 1998 in India, which is a licit supplier of opium to the international pharmaceutical industry. The other factor is the growth of the illicit opium trade. Apparently, the illegal and unofď€ cial business is more lucrative than through the legal and the ofď€ cial channels. Such reports also lead towards the logical conclusion that illicit trade in narcotic drugs is used by nation states (in this case Pakistan) to support their political designs across the border. Another factor that could also lead towards this thesis, though not a signiď€ cant one, is the decline of dacoity and robbery cases, which used to be one of the many sources for funding terrorism in India during this preparatory phase of militancy in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. The following table highlights the same. Incidents of Robbery and Dacoity in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab The ISI, the army and the Pakistan government are together in 'operation terrorism'. Right from 1947 to 1999, Pakistan has been sponsoring terrorism in India, be it in Kargil or in Kashmir, Kapurthala in Punjab or Kokhkrajhar in Assam. These are the three bordering states of India where Pakistan directly or indirectly sponsors mercenary forces to destabilise India. All such activities cost money. A rough estimate for expenses could be something within the range of 100 to 150 crores a month. The North East Times reports
42
that ULFA spends nearly 4 to 6 crores a month. Narcotic drugs are the main source for funding terrorist activities in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir where the Pakistan government overtly sponsors terrorism. There is no authentic estimate available for assessment of expenses incurred by Pakistan for creating the spectre of terrorism in India. However, on the basis of information gathered from terrorists and drug trafckers it could be roughly estimated that Pakistan spends approximately 20 to 30 crores a month on payment to militants alone. During personal interaction with militants the author was told that besides weapons and logistics, ISI pays Rs. 15 to 20 lakhs to militant leaders per month, 3 to 5 lakhs to Afghan Mujahids on contract basis and 15 to 20 thousand to new recruits from both sides of Kashmir. Since all nancial transactions are done in cash, there is no evidence to support this argument.
Monthly Estimate of Expenses on Payment to Terrorist Forces in Jammu and Kashmir Numbers
Payments (Rs.p.m)
Total (in crores)
1) Militant Leaders 15
20,000,00
3,00,00,000
2) Afghan Mujahids 40
5,000,00
20,00,00,000
3) New Recruits 2500
15,000
3,75,00,000
TOTAL: 26, 75, 00,0 00 This is a very conservative estimate based on the information gathered from militants in Jammu and Kashmir. The gure is much higher than the present estimate. The purpose of this table is just to highlight the magnanimous nature of funding terrorism in India. This table highlights only expenses on monthly payment to only three vital categories of people involved in 'operation terrorism' in India. The estimate of expenses on weapons and infrastructure is not easily accessible and thus not included here. The main source for generating the required volume of money is heroin produced at the PakAfghan and Afghan-Iran borders. This region is the largest producer of opium, which is the most protable consumer item in the world. While reporting to the US Congress, DEA ofcials also confessed that they face tough challenges because illicit drugs are intimately linked with cross border terrorism and the arms trade. IqramulHaq an eminent Pakistani scholar gives a candid account of the drugs trade in different phases-right from cultivation to its sale in the US market.
1. An acre of poppy owers produce approximately 7 kilogram of raw opium, which the farmers sell for around Rs. 12,000 to 15,000. 2. The second phase is processing of opium. The raw opium is rened into heroin in a local factory. The heroin at this stage is sold for Rs. 50,000 to 70,000 per kilogram. 3. In the third phase, heroin is smuggled out of the country by couriers. In the dealer network its value goes to approximately Rs. 13,50,000. 4. Finally, heroin is cut and packed into small bags for sale on the streets in the US. This now fetches Rupees 47,00,000.23 The price again depends on the purity of heroin. The number one quality with 80 per cent purity fetches Rs. 70 to 80 lakhs per kg, which again varies from city to city, New York being the most lucrative market. For instance, no.4 quality heroin of Pakistani origin can be cut to four or ve times; mixed with inferior quality powder without additional cost it can make one kilo extra for supply. This now fetches approximately a crore in New York. The commercial value of narcotic drugs could also be analysed from the table, which highlights prices of major narcotic drugs available in the US market during 1996.
Prices of Major Drugs in the US during 1996 Narcotic Drugs Price Range (US $) per kg. 1) Heroin South East Asian 95,000-210,000 South West Asian 80,000-260,000 South American 85,000-185,000 Mexican 50,000 onward 2) Cocaine 10,500-36,000 3) Cannabis/Marijuana 200- 4,000 per pound Source: The National Narcotics Consumers Committee Report, US Dept of Justice, DEA, Intelligence Division, Washington DC, 1996. The gap in the prices is mainly because of the price index of different cities in the US. The rates keep uctuating also because of the law and order situation and increase in demand. As demand for drugs increases, law enforcement agencies take effective measures, and when enforcement agencies are on the alert, the price of narcotic drugs increases.
44
The economics of drugs is not different from other commodities. It is the 'illegal tag' that makes narcotic drugs unique and an attractive business venture. The Cambridge History of China described opium as the most valuable commodity for trade in the nineteenth century. It is branded illegal, but the business trend remains the same. The sword of 'illegal tag' was hanging all over the world and there were very few banks and ď€ nancial institutions to take the risk involved in transaction of illegal money. The only channel for the movement of money was illegitimate underworld operators.
MONEY LAUNDERING Illicit drug trade is highly lucrative and a short cut route to acquire wealth and afuence overnight. It was easy to make money, but difcult to move the funds to their destination. The drug trafckers had to face major problems in transaction of the drug proceeds. There were very few banks to take the risk, though there are instances of banks involvement in monetary transactions of drug money. The dealers had to explore some ways for the movement of cash. Therefore, innumerable channels were explored and created by drug syndicates. Their unorganised but systematic method of monetary transaction is popularly known as money laundering. Money laundering is dened as use of money derived from illegal activity by concealing the identity of the individuals who obtained money and converts it to assets that appear to have come from a legitimate source.The large sum generated from narcotic drugs has become part of the international monetary system. It plays an important role in the corporate sector and international monetary market. The black money is used to inuence politics and economy. This money can buy politicians, fund elections, topple an elected government, take over business enterprises and destabilise an established politico-economic system. The cash accumulated from narcotic drugs trafcking is laundered into licit money through investments in foreign banks, real estate, hotels, transport and entertainment business. More than banks, private nancial institutions have helped drug barons to manage their nances. Switzerland, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Thailand are among the important countries involved in money laundering activities in an organised fashion. Banking laws and lavish life style of the elite facilitates covert operations and monetary transactions of drug trafckers.
46
The best instances of money laundering through legitimate nancial institutions is the case of Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) and Pakistan's Habib Bank. The BCCI's involvement in money laundering was to such an extent that it was nicknamed Bank of Crooks and Criminals. Founded by a Pakistani banker-Aga Hassan Abedi in 1972 in Luxembourg, BCCI had business interests in 70 countries and assets worth 20 billion US dollars by the 1980s. This bank was initially nanced by Sheikh Zayed bin Al Nahayan of Abu Dhabi. Abedi ddled with
an idea of a bank for developing countries or a 'Third World's Bank' for publicity. His vision carried many developing countries. Even Bank of America had an investment of US dollars 2.5 million in BCCI. Within ten years the bank had grown to a considerable size. But voluminous monetary transactions by BCCI raised doubts about its clients and modus operandi. The Bank of America withdrew its investment in 1986 apprehending its drug connection. Many cases of drug prots gradually surfaced. Latin American drug cartels and drug syndicates of South East and South West Asian regions were the main clients of BCCI. They approached the BCCI with drug proceeds without any hesitation. The managers of the bank namely Muesella, Awann, Bilgrami, Akbar, Baaksa, Naqvi and others welcomed the leaders of the syndicates. The Pakistanis dominated this bank. Finally their narcotic drugs laundering drama came to an end in 1991 when the US Grand Jury indicted the managers and others involved in the transaction for fraud and racketeering. These two cases are explicit examples of illicit monetary transactions through legal channels. There are several other ways to launder drug proceeds through professional smugglers and gangsters. Many of these criminals deal only in narcotic drugs and run a parallel government to manage their global network. These groups are well organised and are popularly known as 'drug syndicates'. They launder the drug proceeds through various means such as:Bank Deposits and Loans or 'Smurng' Double Invoicing Investment in Foreign Business Investment in Real Estate Travel and currency exchange Agencies Hawala Transactions Currency Smuggling Conversion of Cash in Kind, Gambling Joints Tax Havens (VDS etc.) Needless to highlight that South West Asia especially India, Pakistan and Afghanistan offer vast opportunity for money laundering. It is a known fact that the real estate boom in India during the 1980s and early 1990s was because of unprecedented investment in property business by Daud Ibrahim (currently in Pakistan) and his associates. Similar was the case of the entertainment industry in Mumbai, Daud Ibrahim & Co. emerged as the real nancier for lms and the music industry during this time. His gang dominated the money market for ten years by funding such business enterprises in Mumbai. The unholy alliance of drug smugglers, criminals, builders, lm producers and petty business enterprises came to light only after the Bombay Blasts in 1993. Until then no one that knew that illicit drug proceeds had already converted into legitimate business and government could do nothing about it as there was
HOW PAKISTAN'S DEALERS DRUGGED PUNJAB: BSF REPORT SAYS SMUGGLERS IN BORDER VILLAGES ARE PAID TO 'CONCEAL AND CLEAR' HEROIN CONSIGNMENTS It is not just terror that is being exported from across the border. The scourge of drug trafcking in Punjab has been growing due to the easy availability of drug couriers, digging of tunnels, insertion of pipes through border fencing, and well-knit syndicates including transnational criminals running the racket from jails. The Border Security Force (BSF), in a detailed report to the Union Home Ministry on drug trafcking in Punjab from beyond the borders, has explained the functioning of well-organised drug cartels. The border guarding force was prompted to submit a report to the Home Ministry after the Punjab government slammed it for not cracking down on the drug maa that continues to smuggle drugs from Pakistan. Personnel of the BSF and Punjab Police hold up packets of heroin seized along the border with Pakistan after a recent haul. The ruling ShirimoniAkali Dal government in Punjab has blamed the BSF for the drug menace in Punjab that has been growing due to drug trafcking from Pakistan.
48
The border guarding force has also said that it's not smuggled drugs that are solely responsible for the drug menace in the state. According to the BSF report, heroin and opium, the two drugs most smuggled, contribute to only ve per cent of the substance abuse in Punjab.
According to the BSF, there are plenty of couriers in border villages and they are being paid up to Rs 60,000 per kg and a well-organised syndicate ensures that drug consignments are “concealed and cleared”. The BSF has also admitted that for years people along the border have been part of the drug network but little has been done to rein in these elements. “There is a third generation of smugglers and couriers operating on the Punjab border. For a majority of them, this has become a hereditary profession,” the report says. The BSF has communicated that local authorities are not of much help in identifying people who are part of drug cartels.
Sources say since there is a good network of couriers ensuring smooth clearance of consignments from the border areas, the kingpins are never nabbed. “Synthetic drugs are freely available in border areas of Punjab. They can be purchased from chemists or local vendors,” the report says. The BSF has explained the modus operandi and functioning of cartels that are pumping drugs from across the border. The use of Pakistani mobile phones by Indian smugglers and vice versa to deceive intelligence agencies is one method being used to evade security agencies. “SIM cards are frequently changed to hoodwink surveillance. Indian smugglers use Pakistani SIM cards and Pakistanis use Indian SIM cards. Transnational criminals contact each other from within and outside jails also,” the BSF report states. The BSF has explained the modus operandi and functioning of cartels that are pumping drugs from across the border. The use of Pakistani mobile phones by Indian smugglers and vice versa to deceive intelligence agencies is one method being used to evade security agencies. “SIM cards are frequently changed to hoodwink surveillance. Indian smugglers use Pakistani SIM cards and Pakistanis use Indian SIM cards. Transnational criminals contact each other from within and outside jails also,” the BSF report states.
50
Continued drug smuggling has resulted in the youth in Punjab falling prey to the menace in large numbers. Of late the issue has created a political stir in the state, with the Enforcement Directorate questioning BikramMajithia, a minister in the Akali government and brother-inlaw of Punjab Deputy Chief Minister SukhbirBadal. The state government in return has put the blame on BSF. Sources say the BSF has decided to give a detailed report to the Home Ministry listing the steps taken by the force and at the same time identifying the weaknesses in the mechanism to curb the drug racket. “Non-availability of pucca (concrete) roads along the International Border in Punjab, suitable observation posts and obsolete infrastructure for border ood lights” are some of the factors put out by the BSF that make it difcult for them to crackdown on the menace.
DELHI POLICY GROUP KEY POINTS Ÿ The spread of drugs across Punjab has grown to such proportions that some term it “narco-
terrorism” and others “narco politics”, pointing towards the illicit involvement of state and non-state actors. Ÿ The Punjab Government has tried several initiatives to tackle the problem, including drug
de-addiction centers and “employability allowances” to train unemployed youth. These have had limited success because they are department driven rather than coordinated across ministries. Ÿ News reports claim that drugs are easily available in the villages and sold by children as
young as 14 years. Historically, Punjab has been no stranger to drugs. Under colonial rule, opium was grown here for export to China and was given to farm workers as an incentive to work faster. Thereafter, the 1970s witnessed two important developments in the international drug trade that particularly affected Punjab. First, the emergence of the Golden Crescent - an epithet for the opium producing areas of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran - as a looming threat for India as a whole and the geographically proximate Punjab in particular. Ÿ Geopolitical disturbances during the 1970s led to the declining popularity of the traditional
heroin transit route, through the Balkans and put India on the map as a drug transit and consumption route especially affecting India's north-western states that shared a border with Pakistan (including Punjab which shares a 550 km long border with Pakistan) Ÿ India also signed bilateral agreements on drug related matters with various countries
including Afghanistan and Pakistan. Yet it seems that the drug problem has continued to worsen in Punjab. Till date there has been no comprehensive survey of the number of drug users in Punjab, but several academic studies have shown that drug abuse is quite rampant. A 2004 survey by the Social Security Department of Punjab reported that 67 percent households in Punjab have at least one drug addict Ÿ An afdavit led by the Government of Punjab in 2009 stated that 7 out of 10 college
students were hooked on drugs of some kind, every third male and every tenth female student has taken drugs on some pretext, and 66 percent of the school-going students were consuming tobacco and gutka. An increase in Injecting Drug Users in Punjab has led to a rise in HIV and Hepatitis C prevalence amongst addicts in Punjab Ÿ If Say's Law of economics is to be believed, then supply creates its own demand, and thus a
discussion on the drugs supply in Punjab is merited. In 2013, the BSF has recovered nearly 390 kgs of Heroin almost four times the amount seized in 2008. In 2013-14, the Customs Department of Punjab has seized 74.672 kgs valued at Rs. 374.05 Crore found concealed in the Samjhauta Express and Goods Train coming from Pakistan Ÿ Smugglers go to great lengths to push packets across the border to Punjab and rely upon
Indian couriers to transmit the goods further. In order to get past the obstacle of electried
52
fences, the modus operandi seems to be to convey drug packets and Pakistani SIM cards across the border through plastic pipelines, or by hurling them across the fence to be picked up by Indian couriers who relay the consignment to couriers waiting for them Ÿ A strict penalty of not less than ten years imprisonment is provided for under the NDPS Act
has not deterred this well-organized network from operating. Cross border drug supply has continued unabated. However, despite smuggling along the Punjab Pakistan border being an established fact, it is a red herring so far as the crisis in Punjab is concerned. Most of the smuggled drugs are meant for onward transit rather than consumption within Punjab and in any case are extremely expensive for Punjab's rural youth Ÿ Laws have not been able to deter either cross border or internal smuggling but the
problem is not with the law as much as it is with its ineffective implementation. Botched investigations due to lack of training of the concerned ofcers has resulted in an abysmal conviction rate Ÿ The consequence is a complete lack of deterrence. A shortage of manpower in various
enforcement agencies is also cited as a major problem. Another challenge is that enforcement agencies need to crack down on organized drug cartels and syndicates as well as drug peddlers. But surprisingly, it seems to be the latter that is more problematic for the agencies since s/he can ensure doorstep delivery of affordable drugs and is likely a drug addict himself/herself Ÿ For instance, Daulewala, a village of approximately 400 households in Moga has become
infamous as the 'drug capital of Punjab' and in 2013, saw the ling of 390 FIRs for violations under the NDPS Act.At least 100 villagers are proclaimed offenders and 150 are in jail in 201435. The police are said to have difculties dealing with those arrested and often release them because of severe withdrawal symptoms faced by drug addicts and the fear that they will die in police custody. Furthermore, instead of deterring drug addicts and peddlers in this village, jail terms have pushed their wives and children into the trade in order to make quick money. Jail terms in any case are oxymoronic for drug addicts and peddlers as drugs are slowly nding their way into Punjab's jails Ÿ Moreover, the increasingly protable drug trade in Punjab is nding innovative ways to
beat the law. There is a percolation of clinics selling addictive prescription drugs to addictsand it becomes impossible for law enforcement agencies to check if these were sold on prescription by the many chemist shops all over Punjab. These chemist shops are also identied as the primary suppliers of illicit drugsand are found even in those villages where there are no hospitals or doctors Ÿ Further, it is also rather difcult for law enforcement agencies to deal with precursors.
Precursors are otherwise legitimate chemicals that are also the sine qua non for the manufacture of illicit drugs, therefore banning them is impossible and the only solution is to ensure greater vigilance
Ÿ The synthetic drug trade is thus booming and is able to escape through several legal
loopholes. Recent drug rackets busted by the police have shown how Punjab has emerged on the world map as a supplier of synthetic drugs and amphetamine type stimulants Ÿ Following Say's law blindly however will lead to an incomplete accounting of Punjab's
insatiable demand. The growth of undeterred drug suppliers in Punjab today is very likely the consequence of a sick state. While individual circumstances such as Punjab's long history of alcohol abuse make it easier to get addicted to drugs, and the machismo portrayed by the “cool habit” of taking drugscannot be ruled out or undermined, the fact remains that drug addiction is so high in Punjab that there is a need for introspection on a macro basis. Punjab was the poster child of the green revolution but seems to have derailed from its high growth path. Agriculture, which is Punjab's foremost industry, is in a state of crisis. Unsustainable agricultural practices have led to a declining quality of ground water as well as depletion of the water table Ÿ The widely practiced rice-wheat rotational monoculture because of the guaranteed
Minimum Support Price and assured procurement by the Government has in effect eroded soil quality, and led to stagnation, if not decline, in productivity. Marginal and small farmers have been particularly affected by this declining productivity and are reeling under high debts, so much so, that these farmers are opting out of farming Ÿ Usually, a switch from agriculture to other employment is seen as a healthy sign for an
economy. However, in Punjab there are no other employment opportunities available. The industrial sector is yet to pick up in Punjab because of very high land prices that make industrial investment difcult Ÿ Other reasons include its geographical location far away from mineral resources and
markets; it's proximity to a hostile neighbor; and being a landlocked state from where import and export is difcult Ÿ Further, some allege, the tax concessions granted to the adjacent hill states of Himachal
Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir have also contributed to the ight of capital from Punjab, leading to a negative rate of growth in the industrial sector and consequential loss of employment opportunities for the youth of Punjab Ÿ Border areas are in fact amongst the worst affected. People here live in a state of social,
economic and psychological stress. Markets are very far away to sell their produce, agricultural lands are saturated, and there is a high level of illiteracy and not much scope for employment generation through the industrial sector because of their proximity to the border Ÿ The Red Cross De-addiction Center at Gurdaspur has listed rising unemployment as one of
54
the key reasons for drug addiction amongst Punjabis. This leads to a vicious cycle where weakened and wasted youth are unable to nd employmentwhen available and thus, ironically, drug peddling and acting as couriers for drug smugglers is emerging as a
popular source of employment in Punjab Ÿ Article 47 of the Constitution of India is visionary in the fact that it links raising standards of
living of the population with the prohibition of drug consumption in effect, directing the Government to undertake a holistic approach if ever confronted with such a menace. However, demand reduction strategies in Punjab have been mostly targeted at the individual alone rather than following a systems approach which links the individual with social and economic policies that will completely root out drug addiction Ÿ This leads to limited success of even well thought out programs such as the national
program for the Prevention of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse and the Project for Awareness and Education for Prevention of Drug Abuse & Alcoholism in Punjab Ÿ The fact that there was no credible data on the number of drug addicts also contributed
to a limited success. Another strategy that has shown limited success has been the operation of drug de-addiction centers in Punjab. Many de-addiction centers are committing serious violations of human rights of inmates and deaths are not uncommon. Ÿ There are hardly any inspections of de-addiction centers. Many don't even have
psychiatrists and counselors and try to “cure” drug addicts by depriving them of food and making them stand for hours in the sun. Many inmates usually escape and return to their life of drugs. In 2011, the Government of Punjab notied the Punjab Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Counseling and Rehabilitation Center Ruleswhich aim at licensing drug addiction centers and lay down standards and norms for their functioning. However, the rules are inefciently implemented and are not widely known Ÿ A survey also found that very few de-addiction centers are adopting mainstreaming
measures such as providing vocational education, or following up on recovered drug addicts. Most of them generally suffered from a shortage of staff Ÿ There is also a lot of fragmentation of policy as the Ministry of Social Justice follows a
welfare model of funding NGOs, the Ministry of Health reaches out through Government hospitals and the State of Punjab follows its own procedure - with the consequence that there are no best practice models Ÿ The Punjab Government has recently decided to provide employability allowance and
make sports compulsory in schools in order to deal with the drug problem. However, these measures are not free from criticism either – for example, providing employability allowance is applicable only to students who are pursuing higher education to incentivize them to undertake vocational courses Ÿ Elections in Punjab are usually feared by recovering drug addicts who speak of the free
and high quality of drugs distributed by political parties while campaigning. In fact, a candidate for the 2014 Parliamentary Election promised to establish legal opium vends if elected (she lost)
Ÿ Punjab also topped the list of highest drug seizures by the Election Commission in 2014,
accounting for almost 75 percent of the nation's total drug seizures during election time. In the absence of transparency in the funding of political parties, the possibility that elections in Punjab are nanced by the drug trade has also been suggested by many Ÿ There is a requirement for institutionalized coordination between the states of Rajasthan
and Punjab to prevent smuggling of opium. A National Drug Demand Reduction Policy once implemented will automatically ensure higher levels of cooperation amongst the states Ÿ There is also a requirement to ll vacancies and recruit additional staff in various law
enforcement agencies in order to ensure proper implementation of the laws. Another suggestion to effectively enforce the law against all offenders is to set up a Legislative Committee which is as representative of political parties in the Punjab Legislature as possible and to which an independent statutory body presents reports on the working of the drug and substance abuse programs. This independent statutory body will receive data from the following hierarchical set up. Ÿ Village Level Committee/NashaVirodhak Committees – comprising of Sarpanch, Patwari,
local health worker and Government doctor. Ÿ Block Level Committee – comprising the Panchayat Samiti Sarpanch, Block Development
Program Ofcer, Naib Tehsildar, NGOs, religious bodies, and other related civil society groups. Ÿ Sub-Division Level Committee – Sub Divisional Magistrate, Senior Medial Ofcer, NGOs,
religious bodies, and other related civil society groups. Ÿ District Level Committee – Zilla Parishad Sarpanch, Divisional Commissioner, District
Medical Ofcers, and other related civil society groups. This independent authority should be conferred with the powers to recommend policy measures to the Government as well as coordinate various programs. At each hierarchical level, a social auditing exercise can also be included. Police reforms and transparency in funding of political parties must also be taken up on an urgent basis. Finally, it is also suggested that India should push for the inclusion of prevention of drug and substance abuse as part of the post-2015 Millennium Development Goals agenda. This will ensure a more effective drug abuse prevention strategy that enables cooperation with other nations as well as brings in a level of international accountability for all nations.
56
CONCLUSION Export and promotion of illicit narcotics and terrorists suit Pakistan's foreign policy aspirations in this region. Both the geography and polity of this region encourages Pakistan to sponsor terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. The climatic conditions favourcultivation of poppy and the political condition helps Pakistan organise the Mujahideen to achieve its foreign policy goals in India. The amount Pakistan spends on sponsoring terrorism in India is nearly the same as it generates from illicit narcotics trade i.e. approximately US $2 billion. This could be a valid argument that it is narcotics that sustain Pakistan's determination to keep India engaged in countering cross-border terrorism. Islamabad aims to weaken India's political and economic will. By pumping the hard currency generated from illicit narcotic drugs trade, Pakistan plans to disturb the local money market and make a dent in the Indian economy. The economic liberalisation introduced in India also opens a plethora of opportunities to Pakistan based drug syndicates. There are three major fallouts of economic liberalisation on the domestic economy of the country. First, government control is relaxed over banking and nancial institutions. Second, it curtails availability of loans. Third, it raises cost of borrowing. And fourth, it reduces return on deposits. As a result money launderers and drug trafckers oat their ill-gotten money into the domestic money market. This is precisely what happened in India during the real estate boom in Bombay and Delhi. Such articial rise in the price index causes economic imbalance. Similarly, the drug money laundered through Hawala or any other illegal channels deprives India of foreign exchange earnings. All these collectively affect the economy of the nation in slow process, which would be felt in due course of time. There is no immediate effect of such destabilising designs. However, the very fact that it has inuence on the economy is a matter of concern. The question arises how to cope with the menace of narco-terrorism in India? The narcotics scenario in the Golden Crescent and direct involvement of Pakistani politicians and law
enforcement agencies therein has brought about an insecure Indian subcontinent. This insecure environment could be dealt with by analysing the prevalent situation in Pakistan, which has become the breeding ground for both terrorists and drug trafď€ ckers. In other words unless the causes for sponsoring terrorism are examined, an effective response to this phenomenon cannot be worked out by any government or non-government agency. It is relevant to note that the reason for Pakistan's involvement in such murky business lies not merely in its foreign policy objective to destabilise India, but also in its failure to evolve and establish a credible political institution within the country. The current politico-economic condition of Pakistan is the fallout of the unfulď€ lled commitments made by the political leaders to the people of Pakistan. Growth of narcotic drug addicts (2 million in 1992) and illegal narcotic syndicates is a manifestation of the growing frustration in Pakistan's socio-economic and political system. Indian strategists and analysts need to take these negative trends in Pakistan into consideration. They should not ignore these developments as isolated domestic problems of Pakistan. It needs to be reiterated that socially and economically the Indian subcontinent is an integral whole. What happens in Pakistan has a spillover effect on India and vice-versa. And sooner or later the entire region tends to get directly or indirectly involved in the problems between the two. These two mainland countries actually hold the key to peace and stability in this region. Therefore, it would not be far-fetched to argue that India needs to analyse the problem of narco-terrorism in the light of overall politico-economic conditions in Pakistan. This is an important issue because Pakistan seems to have got entangled in the labyrinth of militarised politics, terrorism, illicit narcotic drugs trafď€ cking and criminalisation in the name of religious based politics. It is high time that the people of Pakistan do some introspection, and set their house in order instead of talking about the right to self-determination for the Kashmiris in India. The Pakistan government too needs to understand that the trap it has laid for India, namely the net of terrorists and drug smugglers, might boomerang and could be fatal for the civil society in Pakistan. It is futile to look into the past. The 1971 war is a history that should not be repeated by the Pakistan government. It is high time that they realise that the needle of the clock cannot be turned back. They have to look forward to the future and together with India build a structure of peace and stability in this region. Unless Pakistan adopts this attitude on its own, India's security would remain illusive.
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WAYS TO TACKLE DRUG MENACE IN PUNJAB 'Denial is the biggest mistake' The rst and foremost priority should be to avoid the denial mode on drug addiction by everyone, feels Chandigarh-based Institute for Development and Communication Director DrPramod Kumar. “There's an abdication syndrome prevailing among all. Unfortunately, the debate has been reduced to sermonising that who should do what.” he says. “The demand of vice is a bigger problem than the one who lures you to bad habits. We must check the supply in any forceful way we can, but the focus should be the recipient, the one who is seeking the supply. For that, the role of each one of us is important. I would put the role of parents on the top,” he adds. Dr Kumar says it must be acknowledged that the debate on drugs, the politics and the counter-action may be entirely new or new in a different way, but drug intake was always present in the history and culture of this region.
Sensitisation In the interest of Punjab's people, the government must recognise the need to intervene in this area and back it with political will. There is a need for lobbying, pressure groups and advocacy forums, which can place drug abuse higher on the agenda. Sensitisation of key individuals in the policy-making process is of great importance. As yet, there is little evidence of any organised effort in this direction. Government must have to focus on the socioeconomic variables and their impacts on increase number of drug crime, opium cultivation, etc.
Awareness Drug awareness programmers, job opportunities, educating the people regarding the effects of narcotic drugs may create the prosperous future of the nations. Steps should be taken by the government to provide best health care services to the citizens at affordable cost. Awareness of every sphere should be within the reach of each and every person. Children should be made aware about their rights and strategies to escape themselves from being victimized. Education system should be such that it can meet the challenges of fast developing world. People should be made aware about their responsibilities towards their family so that congenial environment within the family should be created. The Akali-BJP government should wake up to the fact that Punjab is on the verge of losing an entire generation to drugs like it lost to terrorism, before it is too late. With respect to sources of drug supply, the Government will need to coordinate with other agencies. Cross border smuggling is already being tackled to certain extent as seen from the rising number of seizures by the BSF. Customs and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence suggest there is a greater alertness on the part of these agencies. However, steps should be taken to incentivize border villages not to indulge smuggling. The borders between Pakistan and Indian Punjab must be sealed foolproof and drugs must not be allowed. BSF, Punjab police and intelligence agencies have to work the extra mile to plug the gaps. Though more than 57,000 drug peddlers and smugglers were arrested in 48, 138 cases by Punjab Police, leading to the seizure of 1,744 kg of heroin (from 2012 to Sep 2015), a lot of ground still needs to be covered to break the existing drug distribution network. Is the situation in Punjab then irredeemable? Not quite. The Gurdaspur Red Cross Deaddiction Center is optimistic and believes that just as militancy in Punjab was eradicated, with the right measures the drug problem can also be routed. How is this to be done? First of
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all, the Government of Punjab must undertake an ofď€ cial survey to ascertain the number of drug addicts in the state and their reasons for drug addiction. A systems approach is to be followed thereafter wherein the well-being of individuals and their individual circumstances should translate into policy changes on a macro level. This plan of action will operate in a phased manner with moving goals. For instance, in the ď€ rst phase of 2- 3 years, the Government can target short term achievable goals such as skilling of a predetermined number of unemployed youth, and opening more rehabilitation centers. Long term goals of 5 to 7 years should include crop diversiď€ cation, renewal of agriculture and sustainable agricultural techniques along with encouraging industrial investment in the region. The Government can envisage a skill development, training and placement program on the lines of Udaan being implemented in Jammu and Kashmir which will target unemployed graduates. For the rural and semiskilled labor, the Government can implement a model of skill-building based on the Roshni program being implemented in the Naxal affected regions of India. Recovering addicts can opt into the program while residing in drug rehabilitation centers so that their special needs can be catered to.
Secondly the Government could establish drug deaddiction centers on a needs basis determined through the aforementioned survey. These should follow statutory procedures for treating drug addicts which are largely based on internationally accepted best practices such as the WHO's Principles of Drug Dependence Treatment Drug de-addiction centres should be based on WHO and NHM workers. National Health Mission workers must utilize mental health components to screen for persons who are vulnerable to addiction because of individual circumstances. Panchayati Raj Institutions should be the main backbone for implementation of drug abuse prevention programs in all rural areas. Incentives should be provided for pursuing the goal of drug free villages through awards. The Project for Awareness and Education for Prevention of Drug Abuse and Alcoholism in Punjab is a good example of an out drug abuse drive. Schools and colleges in Punjab must have counsellors as part of the school's non-teaching faculty. Drug de-addiction centers can train counsellors and teachers in early identiď€ cation of vulnerable school children as well as children addicted to drugs. The sale of drugs should be only by prescription as is done in states like Jammu and Kashmir and Maharashtra. To effectively enforce the law against all offenders, the Punjab Government could set up a Legislative Committee and under that an independent statutory body to report on the working of the drug and substance abuse programs, and suggest policies for a coordinated strategy. Most important is ensuring that the security agencies especially BSF and Punjab Police which have mandate to stop this drug trade, are equipped to carry out their tasks without political pressures. All those found guilty should be given exemplary punishment and the present cosy nexus between corrupt border patrolmen, politicians, law enforcers and trans-border criminals has to be broken forcefully at the earliest.
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REFERENCES © Delhi Policy Group, 2014 Delhi Policy Group Endnotes 1 Phillip A.J., 'Breaking out of despair,' The Tribune, April 28, 2007. Available at: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070428/saturday/main1.html 2 Yardley Jim, 'Indian State nds itself in tight grip of drug addiction,' The New York Times, April 18, 2012. Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/19/world/asia/drug-addiction-is-agrowingproblem-in-punjab.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 3 NitindraBandyopadyay, 'Punjab plagued by tall poppy syndrome,' The Daily Pioneer, 12 May 2014, http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/chandigarh/punjab-plagued-bytall-poppysyndrome.html 4 Chouvy Pierre-Arnaud, 'OPIUM: UNCOVERING THE POLITICS OF POPPY,' Harvard University Press, 2009, p.30. 5 India: South Asian Regional Prole, United Nations Ofce on Drugs and Crime, September 2005. Available at: https://www.unodc.org/pdf/india/publications/south_Asia_Regional_Prole_Sept_2005/10 _india. pdf 6 ChoudharyRohit, 'Plugging Heroin smuggling in Punjab,' The Tribune, February 27, 2014. Available at: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140227/edit.htm#6; 'Modi warns against narco-terrorism route to destroy India,' The Indian Express, April 25, 2014, Available at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/modi-warns-against-narco-terrorism-routetodestroy-india/ 7 UN Drug Conventions 1961, 1971 and 1988. See, http://narcoticsindia.nic.in/about.php 8 The Opium Act, 1857; The Opium Act, 1878 and The Dangerous Drugs Act, 1930. 9 Statement of Objects and Reasons, The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. 10 The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. 11 Policy Strategy for Narcotics Control in India, Available at: http://narcoticsindia.nic.in/policystrategy.php?id=3 12 Parsons Chris, ' Whose Bright Idea was that - Border between India and Pakistan is so bright it can be seen from space,' The Daily Mail, September 6, 2011. Available at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2033886/India-Pakistan-border-visible-space.html 13 Reply to unstarred Question No. 3086 in the LokSabha by Minister of Home Affairs on February 11, 2014. Available at: http://mha1.nic.in/par2013/par2013-pdfs/ls110214/3086.pdf 14 SidanaRoop, Substance Abuse: A Growing Menace -Mission Prevention, Journal of Mental Health and Human Behaviour, 2008 13(1):3-7. Available at: http://ipsnz.org/jounal2008-1/substanceabuse.pdf
15 PreetJatinder, 'Punjab drug ght loses in Akali-Congress battle,' The Sunday Guardian, October 13, 2012. Available at: http://www.sunday-guardian.com/news/punjab-drug-ghtloses-in-akalicongress-battle 16 State Disaster Management Plan, 2012. Available at: http://punjabrevenue.nic.in/sdmp1234.pdf 17 Drug Addiction in Punjab, Issue Brief, Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies, October 12, 2012. Available at: http://client.webdweb.com/rgics/sites/default/les/Drug%20Addiction%20in%20Punjab.pd f 18 Panda et al., Alarming Epidemic of Human Immunodeciency Virus and Hepatitis C Virus Amongst the North Western Bordering States of Punjab, India: Prevalence and Correlates, International Journal of STD & AIDS, Int J STD AIDS. 2013 Dec 18 Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24352120. Also see, AmbekarAtul, 'HIV PREVENTION AMONG INJECTING DRUG USERS AND THEIR FEMALE SEX PARTNERSIMPLEMENTATION GAPS AND BARRIERS- A STUDY IN PUNJAB, HARYANA AND CHANDIGARH,' United Nations Ofce on Drugs and Crime, 2012. Available at: http://www.unodc.org/documents/southasia/publications/researchstudies/PunjabHaryan a_Study_Gaps--Barriers-Book_03-08-12.pdf 19 Supra n.13. 10 © Delhi Policy Group, 2014 Delhi Policy Group 20 'Drug Trafcking Reaches New High in Punjab,' DNA, October 13, 2013. Available at: http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-drug-trafcking-reaches-new-high-in-punjab1903083 21 Press Release by Customs(Preventive) Commissionerate, Amritsar, dated April 2, 2014. Available at: http://amritsarcustoms.gov.in/english/pressrelase.htm 22 Petition led by Shri Shashi Kant , I.P.S (Retd.), pending before the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the matter of Court on its Own Motion versus State of Punjab; Manish Sai, 'What hit this Land of Plenty,' Tehelka, Vol. 9, Issue 15, dated April 14, 2012. Available at: http://archive.tehelka.com/story_main52.asp?lename=Ne140412WHAT.asp; Glut: The Untold Story of Punjab, A Documentary, Doodle Works and N7 Films. Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gutYYa0nHd4 23 Roy Vijay, 'Increase in Narcotics Smuggling through Punjab,' The Business Standard, January 15, 2014. Available at: http://www.business-standard.com/article/currentaffairs/signicant-rise-innarcotics-smuggling-through-border-that-punjab-shares-withpakistan-114011500520_1.html 24 ' BSF shoots dead three Pakistani Smugglers,' The Hindu, October 26, 2013. Available at: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/bsf-shoots-dead-3-pakistandrugsmugglers/article5275186.ece
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25 Chapter IV, The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. 26 United Nations: International Narcotics Control Board, REPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL BOARD, 2006, United Nations Publication, February 1, 2007, E/INCB/2006/1, p.67. Also see, SoodAman, 'Amritsar border turns into major drug transit point,' The Tribune, December 23, 2013. Available at: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20131223/main5.htm 27 The price of Heroin increases throughout its journey. In 2013, it was estimated at Rs.1-1.5 Lakhs/kilo. at its starting point in Afghanistan, and increases to about Rs. 5 Lakhs/kilo post its smuggling through the Indo-Pak border. By the time it reaches Delhi, the price has increased to Rs. 15 Lakh/Kg, thereby making it more protable for smugglers to simply transit through Punjab. See, Singh Jangveer, 'Punjab New Hotspot on Drug Map,' The Tribune, March 17, 2013. Available at: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130317/pers.htm#3 28 Local name for Opium Husk in Punjab's Malwa belt. 29 Section 8, The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. 30 http://cbn.nic.in/html/aboutcbn.htm 31 PreetJatinder, 'Rajasthan feeds drugs to Punjab Addicts,' The Sunday Guardian, October 5, 2013. Available at: http://www.sunday-guardian.com/news/rajasthan-feeds-drugs-topunjab-addicts. Also see, 'National Drug Policy Required to Curb menace, says former C.M.,' FirstPost, January 22, 2014. Available at: http://www.rstpost.com/politics/national-drugpolicy-required-to-curb-menace-saysformer-punjab-cm-1353511.html; Singh Prabhjot, 'Farm Labour, Teenagers worst hit by drug abuse,' The Tribune, June 26, 2005. Available at: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050626/main9.htm 32 Malik Monika, 'Low Conviction Rate fails to Act as Deterrent to Trafckers,' The Pioneer, May 13, 2014, Available at: http://www.dailypioneer.com/nation/low-conviction-rate-failsto-act-asdeterrent-to-trafckers.html 33 National Policy on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, Government of India, p.47. Available at: http://cbn.nic.in/html/NationalPolicyEnglish.pdf 34 Kamal Neel, ' Moga is Punjab's Drug Capital,' The Times of India, June 8, 2013. Available at: http://timesondia.indiatimes.com/india/Moga-is-Punjabs-drugcapital/articleshow/20486141.cms 35 GoyalDivya, 'Punjab's Drug Haven,' The Indian Express, April 11, 2014. Available at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/punjabs-drug-haven/99/ 36 Ibid. Also see, National Policy on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, Government of India, p.47. Available at: http://cbn.nic.in/html/NationalPolicyEnglish.pdf 37 Ibid. 38 A petition on the availability of drugs in prisons is pending before the Punjab and Haryana
High Court in the matter of Tarlochan Singh v. State of Punjab, CWP-2011(O&M). 11 © Delhi Policy Group, 2014 Delhi Policy Group 39 Speech by Hon'ble Justice VijenderJain , Chief Justice, Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh in the seminar on 'Drug De-addiction' held on October 13, 2010 at Bhatinda. A v a i l a b l e a t : http://highcourtchd.gov.in/sub_pages/top_menu/about/events_les/drugaddiction.htm 40 DograChander, 'Punjab's harvest of intoxicants,' The Hindu, April 29, 2014. Available at: http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/punjabs-harvest-ofintoxicants/article5956960.ece 41 Supra n.2. 42 National Policy on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, Government of India, p.17. Available at: http://cbn.nic.in/html/NationalPolicyEnglish.pdf 43 'Punjab Police bust Rs.6,000Crore international synthetic drug racket,' DNA, January 7, 2014. Available at: http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-punjab-police-bust-rs-6000croreinternational-synthetic-drug-racket-1947001 44 Information provided by various drug de-addiction centers in Punjab. Also see, Singh Amanpreet, Drug Abuse Among Rural Youth: A Sociological Study of Punjab, International Referred Research Journal, Vol. 1, Issue 9, June 2010. Available at: http://www.ssmrae.com/admin/images/dc222fbc6de8618aef194228093bf2e6.pdf 45 Punjab Economic Survey, 2012-13, p. 149. 46 Ibid. 47 Advani Rahul, Factors Driving Drug Abuse in India's Punjab, Institute of South Asian Studies Working Paper, No.177, September 24, 2013, National University of Singapore. Available at: www.isas.nus.edu.sg/.../ISAS_Working_Paper_No__177 48 Punjab State Farmers Commission Report, Status of Small Farmers who left Farming in Punjab, 2007. Also see Sharma Amaninder, '34% Marginal Farmers in Punjab Living Below Poverty Line,' The Times of India, November 22, 2013. Available at: http://timesondia.indiatimes.com/india/34- marginal-farmers-in-Punjab-living-belowpoverty-line/articleshow/26176039.cms 49 Punjab Annual Plan 2013-2014. 50 Ahluwalia Isher et al., PUNJAB INDUSTRIAL REVIEW, Study undertaken on behalf of the Government of Punjab in partnership with the UNIDO, p.14. Available at: http://www.unido.org/leadmin/user_media/Publications/Pub_free/Punjab_industrial_revi ew.pdf 51 Khanna Ruchika, 'Tax Sops to neighbours a blow for state,' The Tribune, September 9, 2012.
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Available at: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130910/punjab.htm#2 52 Manish Sai, 'What hit this Land of Plenty,' Tehelka, Vol. 9, Issue 15, dated April 14, 2012. Available at: http://archive.tehelka.com/story_main52.asp?lename=Ne140412WHAT.asp. 53 Singh Kesar and Rangnekar U, A Prole Report on Pre-project Survey of Border Area Development Programmes in Punjab, Annexure VI of Plan Document, 2002.Available at: http://pbplanning.gov.in/pdf/Annexure-VI.pdf 54 Supra n. 50. Drug addiction has been listed as a challenge for Punjab's industrial growth, p.38. 55 GoyalDivya, 'Punjab's Drug Haven,' The Indian Express, April 11, 2014. Available at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/punjabs-drug-haven/99/. ; Manish Sai, 'What hit this Land of Plenty,' Tehelka Magazine, Vol. 9, Issue 15, dated April 14, 2012. Available at: http://archive.tehelka.com/story_main52.asp?lename=Ne140412WHAT.asp. 56 'Duty of the State to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living and to improve public health The State shall regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health as among its primary duties and, in particular, the State shall endeavour to bring about prohibition of the consumption except for medicinal purposes of intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are injurious to health.' Article 47 , The Constitution of India, 1950. 57 Supra n.2. 58 The Government of India has been implementing the national Scheme since 1985 which seeks to prevent substance abuse by educating target groups on the consequences of drug abuse; promoting culturally sensitive drug prevention and rehabilitation programmes; and providing central assistance to various organisations such as integrated drug rehabilitation centers and NGOs for this purpose. 12 © Delhi Policy Group, 2014 Delhi Policy Group Scheme for Prevention of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. Available at: http://www.socialjustice.nic.in/pdf/drugsabuse.pdf. 59 Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan under the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Government of India supported by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Available at: http://www.nyks.org/hindi/Projects1.html 60 'Government to conduct nationwide survey on drug abuse,' The Economic Times, November 11, 2012. Available at: http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-1111/news/35048415_1_drug-abuse-drug-users-drug-consumption 61 Application for Intervention led by Sharan Society for Service to Urban Poverty in the matter of Talwinder Pal Singh v. State of Punjab, Crl. Misc. No. 26374 of 2008 in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Available at: http://www.lawyerscollective.org/les/nal%20I%20A%20%20drug%20dependence%20trea tment.p df. Consultations with people who Use Drugs on Drug Dependence Treatment by
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