Sarwar Kawoosa | Onlykashmir.in
SRINAGAR, July 21: In one of the strongest declarations yet against the drug menace gripping Jammu & Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday announced that the Union Territory has entered a decisive phase of its battle against narco-terrorism, warning that drug syndicates and their financiers will be hunted down and their networks dismantled “link by link.”
Marking the successful completion of the first 100 days of the ‘Drug-Free J&K Campaign’, the Lieutenant Governor revealed that security and law enforcement agencies have already delivered a massive blow to the illegal narcotics trade by arresting 2,581 drug traffickers, seizing 1,431 kilograms of narcotics—including 23.29 kilograms of heroin—and confiscating assets worth over ₹188.89 crore, dealing a significant financial setback to criminal and terror-linked networks.
Declaring that the campaign has now evolved into a people’s movement, Sinha said the administration’s objective extends far beyond routine policing—it is aimed at destroying the economic backbone of narco-terrorism while rescuing thousands of young lives from addiction.
“While this milestone marks significant progress, our mission is far from complete. We are determined to neutralise the drug cartels and narco-terror networks that target our youth. The road ahead will be tough, but our resolve to completely wipe out narco-terrorism is stronger than ever,” the Lieutenant Governor asserted.
From Streets to Strategy: 100 Days of Unprecedented Crackdown
Addressing a gathering organised by the Department of Social Welfare in Srinagar, the Lieutenant Governor said his extensive Padyatra across all 20 districts during the campaign exposed him to the emotional trauma of countless families devastated by drug addiction.
He described meeting anxious parents fearing for the future of their children and witnessing communities struggling with the social and economic consequences of substance abuse.
According to Sinha, these interactions transformed the campaign into a community-driven movement that witnessed unprecedented public participation across Jammu and Kashmir.
“Our Padyatra carried one message—that we will never allow our youth or our future to be stolen by drugs,” he said.
Financial Lifelines of Drug Mafia Cut Off
The administration’s offensive has extended beyond arrests.
Authorities have revoked hundreds of driving licences, cancelled vehicle registrations, recommended suspension of hundreds of passports, and initiated action against non-compliant pharmacies suspected of violating drug-control regulations.
Officials believe these measures are crippling the logistical and financial infrastructure used by drug traffickers while sending a clear warning that economic penalties will accompany criminal prosecution.
The confiscation of assets worth nearly ₹189 crore is being viewed as one of the largest coordinated strikes against the financial networks allegedly supporting narcotics trafficking and its links with terrorism.
Rehabilitation to Become the Next Frontline
While maintaining a hard stance against traffickers, the Lieutenant Governor stressed that individuals trapped in addiction must be treated as victims deserving compassion and rehabilitation.
He announced that the government will soon launch the “Rehabilitation and Socio-Economic Reintegration Scheme for Drug Abuse Victims, 2026,” beginning with pilot implementation in sensitive districts of both the Jammu and Kashmir divisions.
The ambitious three-year programme will focus on:
- Medical treatment and psychological therapy
- Education, vocational training and employment support
- Long-term relapse prevention and community reintegration
Officials hope the initiative will provide recovering addicts with sustainable livelihoods while reducing the likelihood of relapse.
“If You Destroy Lives, Law Will Destroy Your Future”
Delivering one of his strongest warnings yet to narcotics syndicates, Sinha declared that those responsible for poisoning the younger generation would face exemplary punishment.
“The foundation on which smugglers built their empire of narco-terror will be completely destroyed. Those who have ruined the future of our young people will receive such severe punishment that future generations will remember it. If you ruin others’ lives, the law will not spare your future either,” he warned.
The statement underscores the administration’s strategy of treating narcotics trafficking not merely as organised crime but as a security threat with direct links to terror financing.
Society Must Break the Silence
Calling for collective public participation, the Lieutenant Governor urged citizens to report drug-related activities and encourage victims to seek professional treatment rather than face social stigma.
He appealed to parents, teachers, religious scholars, social organisations and community leaders to remain vigilant and actively participate in anti-drug awareness programmes.
“Youth trapped by addiction need support—not ostracism,” he observed, while urging families to recognise early signs of substance abuse and seek timely intervention.
Campaign Honours Stakeholders
The commemorative event also witnessed the felicitation of outstanding contributors to the campaign.
A special Coffee Table Book documenting the impact of the Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Campaign, compiled by the Directorate of Information & Public Relations (DIPR), was released.
The programme featured an anti-drug documentary by DIPR, an awareness skit by the J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (JKAACL), and presentations by J&K Police and the Indian Red Cross Society.
A two-minute silence was also observed in memory of citizens who lost their lives in recent natural calamities across Jammu and Kashmir.
A New Phase Begins
With record seizures, thousands of arrests, major financial crackdowns and a renewed focus on rehabilitation, the administration believes the first 100 days have laid the groundwork for a prolonged campaign against narcotics and narco-terror networks.
As Jammu and Kashmir enters the next phase of its anti-drug mission, the government’s message is unequivocal: the battle against drugs is no longer confined to law enforcement—it is now a full-scale public movement aimed at securing the future of an entire generation.
