Jammu, Apr 11: Sending a strong message against the drug menace, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday launched a 100-day intensive campaign under the Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyan, announcing a series of stringent measures to curb narcotics trafficking across the Union Territory.
The campaign was formally inaugurated at the MA Stadium, where the Lieutenant Governor emphasized that individuals involved in destroying the future of young people through drugs would face strict legal consequences. He asserted that the administration is committed to dismantling drug networks through coordinated enforcement and public participation.
Highlighting the scale of the challenge, the Lieutenant Governor said the spread of substance abuse has become a serious concern affecting communities across districts and villages. He stressed that addressing the issue requires a collective response from government agencies, families, educational institutions, and civil society.
Outlining the government’s tough enforcement policy, the Lieutenant Governor announced that strict punitive action would be taken against drug smugglers, including cancellation of passports, Aadhaar cards and driving licences of those found involved in illegal narcotics trade. He added that authorities would also attach both movable and immovable properties of offenders, freeze their bank accounts, and initiate financial investigations to break the economic networks supporting drug trafficking.
He further stated that major drug peddlers would be publicly identified at the police station level to strengthen accountability and create a strong deterrent against illegal drug activities. According to him, targeting the financial backbone of drug syndicates remains a key component of the administration’s strategy.
Drawing attention to the broader security implications, the Lieutenant Governor noted that drug trafficking is increasingly being used to destabilize society and undermine social stability. He directed enforcement agencies to act decisively against offenders while ensuring that innocent individuals are not subjected to unnecessary harassment.
Calling for a mass movement against drugs, the Lieutenant Governor urged youth, community leaders, and civil society organizations to actively participate in awareness campaigns, pad yatras, and outreach programmes across towns and villages. He emphasized that sustained community involvement is essential to achieving long-term success in eliminating the drug menace.
He also highlighted the vital role of women, particularly mothers and guardians, in preventing substance abuse, noting that awareness at the family level can play a decisive role in protecting young people from falling into addiction.
Describing the next 100 days as crucial, the Lieutenant Governor said the administration will intensify grassroots awareness drives, expand counseling and rehabilitation services in schools, colleges, and universities, and strengthen engagement with vulnerable sections of society.
The Lieutenant Governor further informed that new regulations have been notified to ensure proper functioning of de-addiction centres across Jammu and Kashmir, stating that only authorized facilities with adequate staff and infrastructure will be allowed to operate, while strict action will be taken against violators.
Reiterating a balanced approach, he assured that individuals struggling with addiction would receive full support for treatment, counseling, and rehabilitation, while strong legal action would continue against those responsible for promoting and distributing narcotics in society.
