Jammu: More than 500 people were arrested, and properties worth over Rs 14.50 crore were attached under the ongoing ‘Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir Abhiyan’, officials said on Tuesday.
The campaign, a brainchild of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, was launched on April 11 from Jammu and is a key initiative aimed at combating drug abuse, particularly among the youth.
The officials said that a significant quantity of narcotics has also been seized during the campaign, including 4.7 kg of heroin, 27.13 kg of charas and over 209 kg of ganja.
As part of the crackdown, authorities attached both movable and immovable properties linked to drug peddlers across Jammu and Kashmir, they added.
In the Kashmir zone, six movable properties worth Rs 12.66 lakh and 14 immovable properties worth Rs 7,77 crore were attached, they added.
In the Jammu zone, 22 movable properties worth Rs 1.36 crore and nine immovable properties worth Rs 5.54 crore were seized.
The officials added that 537 drug peddlers were arrested, with 502 FIRs being registered.
The campaign began with a padyatra led by Sinha from M A Stadium, marking the start of a 100-day intensive drive focusing on public participation, awareness and community engagement.
So far, the L-G has personally led padyatras in 10 districts of the Jammu region and two districts in the Kashmir Valley, drawing participation from three to four lakh people. Jammu and Srinagar witnessed the highest footfall during these events, they said.
Issuing a stern warning, Sinha said in Doda that drug traffickers would be dealt with like terrorists under the law.
“Narcotics smuggling is no less than terrorism, and those involved will face stringent punishment. Drug abuse is like silent terrorism, not just a matter of law and order,” he said.
During a visit to Kathua, he directed police to identify top drug peddlers under each police station and dismantle their networks within 30 days.
In Srinagar, Sinha also alleged that the “inimical neighbour” was targeting the youth of the region by pushing drugs.
He asserted that the government and security forces would foil such attempts, describing narcotics trafficking as a serious threat linked to narco-terrorism.
