Srinagar, May 23 :
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday joined the ‘Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Padyatra’ in Shopian, where people from different sections of society pledged to eliminate narco-terrorism and drug trafficking from every corner of the Union Territory.
Addressing a massive gathering, the Lieutenant Governor said the growing public movement against drugs marks the beginning of a new chapter in Jammu and Kashmir’s fight against narcotics and terrorism.
He said voices from every town, village and locality are now rising together against drug smugglers and narco-terror elements, adding that the campaign which started 43 days ago in Jammu has transformed into a powerful mass movement across the Union Territory.
LG Sinha said millions of people across Jammu and Kashmir are united with a common resolve to wipe out narcotics-terrorism from the “land of paradise.” He asserted that citizens have now realized that the drug menace is not a distant issue but a direct threat to society and future generations.
Highlighting the growing concern over drug abuse, the Lieutenant Governor said narcotics are pushing youth away from development and progress, while terror outfits are using proceeds from drug trafficking to procure weapons and fuel violence in the region.
Issuing a strong warning, he said any official or public representative found linked with drug networks or supporting narcotics trade would face strict legal action.
“Even the slightest trace of involvement in the drug network within the system will be removed mercilessly without hesitation,” the Lieutenant Governor asserted.
He said narco-smugglers and traffickers have built illegal empires by destroying the lives of young people, but the administration has intensified its crackdown to dismantle these networks completely.
The Lieutenant Governor described every drug packet sold in towns and villages as “a bullet aimed at society,” adding that youth are the first victims wherever drug trafficking flourishes.
He said thousands of families in Jammu and Kashmir continue to live under fear due to the increasing drug menace, and stressed the need to ensure a safe and drug-free environment for every household in the Union Territory.
Sharing details of the ongoing anti-drug campaign, LG Sinha said over 7,000 women’s committees have been constituted across Jammu and Kashmir to strengthen grassroots awareness and community participation against narcotics.
He informed that during the past 43 days, authorities have registered 797 FIRs and arrested 894 drug smugglers and peddlers. As many as 59 traffickers were booked under PIT-NDPS provisions, while 81 illegal properties raised through drug money were demolished.
The administration has also attached 101 immovable properties and seized assets worth crores linked to narcotics networks. Additionally, 457 driving licences have been suspended, recommendations made for cancellation of passports of 22 smugglers, and registration of 606 vehicles linked to drug trafficking proposed for cancellation.
The Lieutenant Governor further said that more than 5,641 medical stores were inspected during the drive, resulting in suspension or cancellation of licences of 268 drug stores, while FIRs were registered against six establishments.
He also announced that the administration is preparing a comprehensive rehabilitation policy aimed at not only de-addicting affected youth but also helping them return to the mainstream through employment and livelihood opportunities.