Srinagar, May 5:
In a powerful push to the Drug-Free Jammu & Kashmir campaign, Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha joined a massive public Padyatra (foot march) in Budgam today. Addressing a large gathering of citizens, the Lt Governor pledged the administration’s absolute resolve to eliminate narcotics from the region and announced a ground-up community initiative: the ‘Parents Brigade’.
The high-profile event marks day 24 of the intensive 100-day anti-drug campaign launched on April 11, leaving exactly 76 days for communities and law enforcement to meet their collective targets.
Key Announcement: The ‘Parents Brigade’
To foster grassroots vigilance, LG Sinha announced the creation of an informal ‘Parents Brigade’ to be set up in every village and city ward across the Union Territory.
What is the Parents Brigade? A voluntary network consisting of parents, women, and youth who will be trained and empowered to:
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Identify early signs of drug abuse in local wards and villages.
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Directly and immediately connect affected families with rehabilitation resources.
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Destigmatize addiction so families do not suffer in silence.
“Every young person lost to addiction is a loss of strength for our future workforce, and a lost soldier for our police and army,” the Lt Governor remarked. “Every family broken by addiction is a crack in the foundation of our society.”
“Victims, Not Criminals”: A Call for Compassion
In a deeply empathetic appeal, LG Sinha urged society to shed the stigma surrounding addiction and accept the reality that many young boys and girls have fallen prey to narcotics.
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Embrace and Care: The LG emphasized that addicted youth are victims who require care, compassion, and rehabilitation, rather than isolation or criminalization.
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Breaking the Silence: He called upon families to speak out, stating that “silence will not defeat this” and that community support is essential for recovery.
Narco-Terrorism: “A Crisis of National Security”
Shifting focus to national security, the Lieutenant Governor directly linked the influx of drugs to cross-border proxy warfare.
“The drug trade is funding terrorism and radicalization,” LG Sinha said. “The entire world knows that our neighbor, a major patron of terrorism, is smuggling drugs into Jammu Kashmir. Drug trafficking and terror funding are no longer separate issues—they are two hands of the same enemy. When we fight against drugs, we fight against terror.”
A 30-Day Ultimatum for Drug Smugglers
Delivering a stern warning to drug cartels, the Lt Governor announced immediate, aggressive directives for the Jammu & Kashmir Police:
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30-Day Target: Every police station in the Kashmir Valley has been directed to identify and act against active drug smugglers and peddlers in their jurisdiction within the next 30 days.
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Financial Crackdown: Agencies are actively monitoring the financial transactions of drug cartels.
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Asset Demolition: LG Sinha warned that major smugglers would face the harshest consequences: “The palaces built with drug money will be razed to the ground.”
A United Front
The Lieutenant Governor concluded by reminding the public that law enforcement and administration cannot win this battle in isolation. He urged teachers, spiritual leaders, doctors, elders, and youth to become the “eyes and ears” of the administration.
“I want to tell the drug smugglers and elements linked to the narco-terror network active in Budgam: your time on this soil has ended. Our agencies know who you are, and not a single drug smuggler will escape accountability,” Sinha declared.
