Jammu, Apr 11 (NVI): In a sweeping and hard-hitting offensive against the drug menace, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday unveiled a 100-day Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir campaign, declaring that those “destroying the future of youth will not be spared” and announcing unprecedented punitive measures against drug smugglers.
Addressing a massive gathering at MA Stadium, the LG made it clear that the administration will adopt a zero-tolerance policy, ordering cancellation of passports, Aadhaar cards, and driving licences of drug peddlers, besides attachment of their properties and freezing of bank accounts.
Calling the drug trade a “weapon against society,” Sinha said the crackdown will target the financial backbone of the narco-network through a newly enforced Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
“Every rupee earned through drugs will be tracked and seized. Drug smugglers will lose not just their freedom but every illegal asset they own,” he asserted.
In a significant escalation, the LG directed that top drug peddlers be publicly identified at the police station level to ensure accountability and create a strong deterrent.
Linking the menace to national security, Sinha said drug trafficking is being exploited to fund terrorism and destabilise the region.
“A neighbouring country is deliberately pushing drugs into Jammu and Kashmir to hollow out our youth. This is not just crime—it is a conspiracy,” he said, issuing a stern directive to enforcement agencies: “Do not harass the innocent, but ensure the guilty do not escape.”
Launching the mass movement, the LG called for widespread pad yatras, public awareness campaigns, and active participation from youth, civil society, and community leaders across the Union Territory.
“This is not a fight for the government alone. Society must rise as one to defeat this menace,” he said.
Emphasising the role of women, Sinha said mothers and sisters can play a transformative role in preventing substance abuse at the grassroots level.
The LG outlined a multi-pronged strategy for the next 100 days, including intensive awareness drives in villages and towns, counselling support in schools and colleges, targeted outreach to vulnerable groups, and sustained community engagement.
To strengthen rehabilitation efforts, the administration has notified the Jammu and Kashmir Substance Use Disorder Treatment, Counselling and Rehabilitation Centre Rules, 2026, ensuring only authorised and well-equipped de-addiction centres operate in the region.
“Victims of addiction will receive full support for treatment and rehabilitation, but those who push them into this trap will face the harshest consequences,” he said.
The campaign marks one of the most aggressive anti-drug initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years, signalling a decisive push to dismantle the narco-terror ecosystem and reclaim the future of the region’s youth—(NVI)
