SMUGGLING SIN
   Date :02-Jul-2019

 
 
THERE was always the possibility of the open trade with Pakistan through various routes, including the Attari border post, being misused for clandestine purposes, including subversion. The over five quintals narcotics haul at the Attari border post from a goods truck worth Rs. 2700 crores, brings to fore the hidden truth and foretells danger to national security and its social implications for India. Already Indian Punjab is fighting a bitter war against drug menace which is afflicting its younger generation. But then it is not just Punjab that may be bearing the brunt of the narcotics smuggling from Pakistan. Several other parts could also be in its vice-like grip. This time only drugs have been found. There could be other objectionable goods like arms and ammunition to aid terrorism. There is also the possibility of this sin money being used for funding terrorist operations. That this possibility is not hypothetical is proved by the huge haul of heroin smuggled from Pakistan riding piggy back on a goods truck. This should lead the investigators to the Indian conduits endangering India.
 
CHINKS EXPOSED
 
ONE loss does not change India’s fortunes in the ongoing World Cup. Yet, it has to be analysed threadbare by the team management, for, the manner of defeat always gives a peep into the chinks that are often left unguarded during a winning streak. India’s 31-run defeat to England on Sunday presents Virat Kohli and Co. an opportunity to apply a quickfix to some of its problems that were bound to surface in some game. India should feel relieved that the loss has come at a time when they are not far away from the knock-outs and not deep into a no-return zone. England’s victory has exposed India’s fragile middle-order and inability to engineer a chase without support from a top-order batsman. The overdependence on Kohli and Rohit Sharma was sure to bite India badly. It did and brought to fore the vulnerabilities of the batting unit. The only silver lining from the loss was Indian pacers’ solid fightback. The likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohd Shami must be complemented in equal terms by the batters.