Srinagar, In a concerning development, the Kashmir Valley has reportedly seen a surge in drug use among its youth, a situation allegedly exacerbated by the involvement of the Indian Army and other agencies in the region.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the Indian Army and their affiliates, in collusion with the drug mafia and Hindutva forces, are purportedly facilitating the spread of narcotics such as charas, ganja, cocaine, heroin, corex, and crack cocaine. These substances are said to be increasingly used by the young population in the valley, which is already grappling with severe economic and employment challenges under the Modi administration’s policies.

Reports of daily oppression through house raids, detentions, and harassment are compounded by these allegations of substance abuse promotion. The youth, facing dire socio-economic circumstances, are allegedly being enticed into drug use with the intention of destabilizing Kashmiri society.

During a recent court hearing in Srinagar concerning the rising drug abuse among young people, the judiciary acknowledged the rapid proliferation of this issue within the community.

Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Dr. Yasir Rather, a psychiatrist and professor at the Srinagar-based Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS), has noted a drastic increase in drug addiction cases. Dr. Rather stated that the hospital used to see 10-15 cases of drug addiction per day about a decade ago, which has now escalated to 150-200 daily cases, describing the trend as alarming.