Srinagar, June 1:
In a major push against the drug menace and cross-border narco-terrorism in the Union Territory, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday led a massive ‘Drug-Free J&K Padyatra’ in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
Addressing a large public gathering, the Lieutenant Governor emphasized that the ongoing anti-drug campaign has evolved from an administrative initiative into a full-fledged peoples’ movement, connecting citizens across towns and villages with a singular, shared purpose.
Narco-Terrorism: Striking at the Financial Backbone of Terror
In a hard-hitting statement, LG Sinha drew a direct link between drug trafficking and the funding of subversive activities in the region, calling on citizens to view the crisis through the lens of national security.
“This campaign is striking directly at the financial backbone of terrorism. Every rupee spent on drugs fuels extremist violence, and narco-terrorists survive on that blood money. By halting the drug trade, we cut off the lifeline that sustains terror networks,” LG Sinha asserted.
He further reminded the public that the campaign is not merely a public-health struggle. “When we choke off drug smuggling, we weaken those who seek to destabilize our nation, spill the blood of innocent people of J&K, and divert our youth from the path of progress.”
Direct Action: Crackdown Metrics of the Last 51 Days
It is pertinent to mention that 923 FIRs have been registered against drug traffickers in the last 51 days. More than 1,000 drug smugglers and peddlers have been arrested, over 55 traffickers have been detained under PIT-NDPS provisions, 668 driving licenses have been cancelled, and recommendations have been made to revoke 124 passports. The Lieutenant Governor said that the fight against drugs is not limited to raids and arrests but the administration is also working on breaking the supply chain, generating public awareness and working towards the dignified rehabilitation for those suffering from addiction.
A Shared Social Responsibility
Reflecting on the journey since the launch of the Nasha-Mukt Bharat Initiative in 2020 under the guidance of PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, the LG credited the community for the visible shift on the ground. He noted that the campaign belongs to the parents, teachers, religious leaders, and young volunteers who have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the security forces and administration.
“I stand before you not only as your Lieutenant Governor but as a member of your family who shares your pain,” he added, reiterating his 2021 pledge for a fear-free and drug-free Jammu Kashmir. “The chains that once trapped our youth in the dark web of drugs are breaking apart, link by link, day by day.”
The LG concluded by stating that the war on drugs is a multi-pronged strategy. Beyond structural raids and legal arrests, the administration remains heavily focused on breaking regional supply lines, generating robust public awareness, and ensuring the dignified rehabilitation of victims back into the mainstream of society.
