Srinagar, March 21 -- Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to launch a crackdown against the quacks for practicing ' leech therapy' on gullible people in the valley.

Thousands of people undergo leech therapy on Navroz, the beginning of the Persian year. Doctors, however, flagged the unscientific procedure by quacks while conducting leech therapy.

"We are going to take strict action against the people who are practicing leech therapy on patients without any training. Mostly the quacks are using this therapy on patients. Since they have no scientific background, there are chances that leech therapy may result in different blood infections," said Dr. Farooq Naqashbandi, Medical Superintendent, Government Unani Hospital Shalteng.

Dr. F...