Prof.S.K.Bhalla
The upcoming semi urban Ban Jagti extension of Jammu which has been projected as a hub of prestigious National level educational institutions is gaining ignominy for undesirable activities which are alien to a civilized set up. Coming to the core issue, as per media report and insiders in the administration yesterday only a restaurant established in a secluded location at Ban alongside old Nagrota road has been raided by police team on the basis of available inputs for prevalence of immoral activities. A young couple was caught from a room located on top floor of the restaurant. Both the visiting love birds as well as owner of the restaurant who also happens to be a Journalist were taken to police station where the trio were produced before the Magistrate, reportedly.
This misadventure in my humble opinion attracts section 3 of India’s Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (ITPA) which deals with punishment for knowingly allowing premises for immoral activities. This expose has sent shock waves among the meaningful citizenary of Jammu who are groping for appropriate answers from the district administration. Such an incident in the vicinity of famed educational institutions is a blot for which a fast track mechanism is required to nip the evil in bud so that such foul recurrences are scotched.
This is not the solitary development. There are credible reports about existence of several hot spots used for drug abuse and rave party culture besides immoral activities in Ban-Jagti area. Hopefully, the intelligence grid footing in this area is aware of these foul happenings. Surprisingly, the most craved Spa centres have also started popping up in Tehsil Nagrota where the surrounding inhabitants are rustics and unaware about this hi-fi metro culture. It is high time, to assert with might to sanitize the stretch in the larger public interest. Situation grave warranting immediate remedial steps before the virus goes out of control.