Srinagar, May 19 (IANS) J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday urged the people to strike the final blow to drug abuse so that the people and the administration together dismantle the narco-terror network and save the younger generation from addiction.
J&K L-G joined the people’s movement against drugs in Pulwama and addressed citizens, urging them to intensify the fight against drug abuse and work collectively to dismantle the narco-terror network.
He said the past month had witnessed an awakening of public spirit across Jammu and Kashmir.
“In Baramulla, I saw thousands raising their voices against drugs. Similarly, in Jammu, Samba, Udhampur, Kathua, Srinagar, and other districts, I saw young people and parents resolutely committed to this fight,” the J&K L-G said.
He said that over the last 39 days, across different districts of Jammu and Kashmir, neighbours had become each other’s support and the long-standing silence surrounding the issue had begun to break.
According to the J&K L-G, that silence had now turned into a loud, collective outcry against drugs.
“Our fight is against a vast narco-terror network fuelled by fear, greed, and destruction. In Pulwama alone, more than 11,000 local events have been organised in recent days,” he said.
He added that First Information Reports had been registered against 48 drug smugglers and 56 drug traffickers had been arrested, saying these figures showed that authorities were striking directly at the roots of terror.
The J&K L-G said that for many decades, drug smuggling in Jammu and Kashmir had been treated merely as a local crime, but people must now realise that drug smugglers and terrorists were “two sides of the same coin”.
“Drug smugglers profit by destroying the futures of our youth, and terror outfits use that money to fuel terrorism and radicalisation in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
He added that every deal made by a drug peddler not only wrecked a young life but also financed the killing of innocent citizens.
“When drug smugglers earn money, our youth lose their future, and that money arms terrorists against innocents in Jammu and Kashmir,” the J&K L-G said.
Reaffirming his resolve, the J&K L-G said the administration would remove drug smugglers and peddlers from the soil of Jammu and Kashmir.
He warned the narco-terror ecosystem that it could no longer hide and said law enforcement agencies were actively pursuing those involved.
“We will hunt you down even in your deepest hideouts. Our mission is not just arrests but the complete destruction of the narco-terror empire and tearing out the very roots from which this poison spreads,” he said.
It is pertinent to mention that since April 11, about 897 drug smugglers and peddlers have been arrested, while recommendations have been made to cancel the passports of 18 traffickers.
Additionally, the driving licences of 382 traffickers and peddlers, and the registrations of 386 vehicles, have been cancelled. 49 immovable properties have been seized, and 45 properties have been demolished.
Across both the Jammu and Kashmir divisions, nearly 5,045 drug stores have been inspected. Licences of 225 drug stores have been suspended, licences of 27 stores have been cancelled, and First Information Reports have been registered against six stores.
From April 11 until now, 393,000 programmes have been held throughout Jammu and Kashmir, with millions participating in awareness and outreach activities.
To strengthen ground-level monitoring and rehabilitation, 6,646 village women’s committees and 2,997 youth clubs have been formed across Jammu and Kashmir to block drug trafficking and ensure rehabilitation of those trapped by addiction.
The J&K L-G said more than 100 helpline calls were being received daily, and over 52,000 patients had so far received treatment at addiction treatment facilities.
“As this 100-day campaign advances, we must fuel its momentum. Stay vigilant. Stay united,” he said.
He urged the people of Jammu and Kashmir to remember that stopping one peddler saved a life and every life saved weakened terror in the Valley.
“Together, we will break addiction’s chains in Jammu and Kashmir, end terrorism, and light up our streets, homes, and future. A month ago, we dreamed of a drug-free Jammu and Kashmir. Today, we are proving it is real,” the J&K L-G said.
–IANS
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