Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha on Wednesday directed the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Union Territory administration to further intensify the crackdown on the narco-terror network operating across Jammu and Kashmir, while ordering the strengthening of the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) through deployment of additional manpower.
Chairing a high-level review meeting at Lok Bhavan in Srinagar, the Lieutenant Governor took stock of the ongoing “Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyan” and stressed the need for a more robust and coordinated anti-drug mechanism to tackle the growing menace of narcotics and its alleged links with terror financing.
During the meeting, the Lieutenant Governor specifically directed Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat to further strengthen the ANTF by augmenting manpower and enhancing operational capabilities to dismantle drug trafficking networks active in the Union Territory.
Officials said the Lieutenant Governor emphasized that the fight against drugs must be pursued aggressively at both enforcement and societal levels, with coordinated action involving police, civil administration, health institutions and educational departments.
Reviewing rehabilitation measures for drug abuse victims, Sinha directed the authorities to scale up police and health department-run de-addiction and rehabilitation centres across Jammu and Kashmir. He also called for regular monitoring by health officials to ensure effective counselling, treatment and rehabilitation of affected youth.
The Lieutenant Governor further instructed the administration to identify and closely monitor vulnerable locations such as abandoned buildings, isolated river bunds and other neglected spaces that could be misused for narcotics-related activities. He also called for wider public disclosure of high-profile drug peddlers to create deterrence and spread public awareness against the drug trade.
Highlighting the importance of preventive measures, Sinha tasked the School Education and Higher Education Departments with organising sports tournaments, awareness campaigns and youth engagement programmes aimed at steering young people away from substance abuse.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, senior police officers and top civil administration officials, including officers from the finance, home, health, education and public works departments.
