Kulgam, June 1, KNT: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday led a Drug-Free Jammu and Kashmir march in Kulgam and said the campaign against narcotics had evolved into a mass public movement aimed at protecting youth, families and society while simultaneously targeting the financial networks linked to extremist violence.
The Lieutenant Governor’s remarks positioned the anti-drug drive not merely as a public health initiative but also as a security effort targeting illegal networks allegedly sustained through narcotics trafficking.
Addressing a public gathering after the march, Sinha said the campaign had connected people across Jammu and Kashmir with a shared commitment to make villages and towns free from drug abuse.
“This campaign belongs to the people. Parents, teachers, religious leaders and young volunteers have stood shoulder to shoulder with the administration,” he said.
Sinha observed that 51 days earlier people had ignited what he described as a spark of change, which had now grown into a wider movement driven by public participation and collective resolve.
The Lieutenant Governor said the campaign was directly striking at the financial foundations of extremist violence.
“Every rupee spent on drugs fuels extremist violence. By halting the drug trade, we cut off the lifeline that sustains such networks,” he said.
He urged people to view the issue not solely through the lens of addiction or healthcare but also as a matter linked to national security and social stability.
Sinha said Jammu and Kashmir had for years faced social and security challenges arising from narcotics trafficking and related criminal activity.
Referring to the Drug-Free India initiative launched in 2020 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Lieutenant Governor described the programme as a turning point in the broader anti-drug effort.
“I stand before you not only as your Lieutenant Governor but as a member of your family who shares your pain and your dream of a safe and drug-free Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Highlighting enforcement measures, Sinha said coordinated operations carried out over the past 51 days had targeted drug traffickers and disrupted supply networks.
According to figures shared by the Lieutenant Governor, 923 FIRs were registered against drug traffickers during the period, more than 1,000 alleged smugglers and peddlers were arrested, and over 55 individuals were detained under PIT-NDPS provisions.
He further said 668 driving licenses had been cancelled while authorities had recommended revocation of 124 passports.
The Lieutenant Governor emphasized that the administration’s response extended beyond raids and arrests and included efforts aimed at dismantling supply chains, generating public awareness and ensuring rehabilitation for persons affected by addiction.
“We will ensure our youth are freed from the grip of addiction and become the strength that leads Jammu and Kashmir toward a brighter tomorrow,” he said. [KNT]
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