Army saves Kashmiri youth from drug menace

Srinagar, Sep 2 (UNI) The Army today claimed to have busted a major racket involving militant outfits and drug dealing in north Kashmir's Baramulla district.

A defence spokesman said troops on August 31 carried out a sting operation and busted a major racket involving terrorist outfits and drug dealing in Baramulla district.

He said having failed in their attempts to garner support from younger generation, militants were now using drugs to lure youths into their clutches.

''Areas around colleges and schools are the latest targets of these nefarious elements. Young students are initially lured into the dark world of drugs and thereafter coerced to undertake militant activities such as grenade throwing,'' the spokesman said.

He said while undertaking youth development programmes, the Army in Baramulla realised the importance of weeding out drug peddlers from the area.

In a sting operation around Baramulla Degree College, the spokesman said three drug peddlers -- Ghulam Qadir Rather, Zahoor Ahmed Rather and Bashir Ahmed Lone -- were trapped and 1.7 kg of heroin worth about Rs one crore along with three grenades were seized from them.

During interrogation, he said the three revealed that they were luring the students with drugs and thereafter blackmailing them to throw grenades in the towns spreading terror.

''One way or the other, the innocent young college boys were being ensnared in the narco-militant nexus,'' the spokesman added.

UNI AG VD DS1620