Collective Force Has Risen Against Drugs: J & K LG

(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer) Jammu- Manoj Sinha on Friday said a“collective force” has risen across Jammu and Kashmir against drug abuse, as he launched the 'Drug-Free J&K Campaign' in Reasi and called for a sustained, society-wide movement to eliminate narcotics.

Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor said that in just 12 days of the ongoing Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyaan, communities, enforcement agencies and institutions have shown a unified resolve to tackle the menace. He stressed that the campaign must evolve into a“historic movement” rooted in homes, schools, mohallas and villages, driven by open and honest dialogue.

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“Mothers and sisters are the moral bedrock of our society and with their support, this cancer will be cured,” he said, underlining the role of women in leading social change. He noted that 1,947 women committees have already been constituted across districts in the Jammu division since April 11 to strengthen community-level engagement.

Detailing the enforcement outcomes, Sinha said that between April 11 and 22 in the Jammu division, authorities registered a large number of cases and arrested several drug smugglers. Narcotics worth nearly ₹3 crore were seized, while assets valued at around ₹1 crore were attached as part of efforts to dismantle the financial backbone of the drug trade.

He said properties of drug peddlers have been demolished, 187 driving licences and four vehicle registrations cancelled, and financial investigations initiated against 48 drug peddlers. In addition, authorities conducted inspections of chemist shops, leading to the cancellation of 15 drug licences for violations of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

The Lieutenant Governor added that drug users identified during the campaign have been referred to de-addiction and rehabilitation centres, with counselling support extended as part of a parallel public health approach.

On the enforcement front, Sinha said over two dozen drug traffickers have been identified for targeted action, while thousands of suspected peddlers remain under surveillance. Security checks have been intensified around schools, colleges and other vulnerable areas to prevent drug circulation among youth.

Issuing a stern warning, he said those involved in drug trafficking would face the“harshest consequences under the law.” He also highlighted the nexus between narcotics and terrorism, stating that drug traffickers and terrorists often operate hand in hand and must be treated as“allies in crime.”

“Our response should be decisive, thorough and unyielding. Every route exploited by smugglers must be monitored, every financial chain dismantled, and every asset stripped away until these networks are destroyed,” he said.

Reflecting on the broader context, Sinha observed that for over a decade, Jammu and Kashmir has carried a“heavy silence” around drug abuse, and the current campaign seeks to break that silence through collective action.

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He also called upon NGOs, social organisations, educators and spiritual leaders to join the initiative in large numbers, describing them as“frontline guardians” capable of mobilising communities and restoring social resilience.

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Reaffirming the administration's commitment, the Lieutenant Governor said the campaign would continue with a combination of strict enforcement, financial scrutiny, institutional accountability and active public participation to eradicate the drug menace from its roots.

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