Examiner Bureau | Kupwara :
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday participated in the “Nasha-Mukt Jammu Kashmir Campaign” padyatra in Kupwara and addressed a large public gathering, highlighting the administration’s intensified crackdown on drug abuse and narcotics networks across the Union Territory.
Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor said that during the past 32 days, the civil and police administration has dealt a major blow to the drug smuggling ecosystem, describing the campaign as a rapidly growing people’s movement against narcotics.
He said properties worth crores of rupees have been seized, assets confiscated, passports of 15 drug smugglers recommended for cancellation, and more than 730 smugglers and peddlers arrested so far.
Sinha stated that what began as an awareness initiative in April has now evolved into a mass movement involving villages, towns, schools, colleges, and urban centres across Jammu and Kashmir. He added that public participation had exceeded expectations and proved wrong those who doubted the campaign’s impact.
Describing drug abuse and terrorism as interconnected threats, the Lieutenant Governor said narcotics networks are being used to fund terror activities. “Drug smuggling and terrorism are two heads of the same snake,” he said, stressing that the fight against drugs is also a fight against terrorism.
Referring to Kupwara and Handwara, Sinha said 28 drug smugglers have been arrested in the twin areas alone. He directed police and anti-narcotics teams to intensify operations and ensure that no individual involved in the illegal trade escapes accountability. He also instructed all police stations in Kupwara district to identify active drug peddlers and initiate strict action within a fixed timeframe.
At the same time, the Lieutenant Governor emphasised the need for a balanced and humane approach towards addiction, urging authorities and society to treat addicts as victims requiring care, counselling, and rehabilitation. He called for stronger support systems to help affected youth return to the mainstream.
Sinha also appealed to citizens to actively participate in anti-drug awareness campaigns and make use of grievance redressal platforms, including the Manas portal and toll-free helplines, to report drug-related activities.
During the event, the Lieutenant Governor unveiled trophies for the Kupwara Forest League and Volleyball Championship organised under the anti-drug campaign. He also felicitated winners of a reel-making competition aimed at spreading awareness against substance abuse.
