Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha leads Drug Free Jammu and Kashmir Padyatra in Kulgam
SRINAGAR, June 1 — Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha led the Drug-Free J&K Padyatra in Kulgam today, addressing a major public gathering and hailing the campaign as a people’s movement that has connected every heart across Jammu and Kashmir with the shared purpose of making villages and towns drug-free.
He emphasized that parents, teachers, religious leaders, and young volunteers have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the administration in this critical campaign.
Reflecting on the timeline of the initiative, Manoj Sinha observed that 51 days ago, the people of Jammu and Kashmir kindled a spark of change that has now transformed into a fierce flame of hope, courage, and resolve, noting that the fight against addiction requires sustained effort, constant alertness, and absolute unity.
The Lieutenant Governor strongly linked the anti-drug campaign to national security, stating that the initiative strikes directly at the financial backbone of terrorism. He noted that money spent on narcotics fuels extremist violence, allowing narco-terrorists to survive on blood money, and that halting the drug trade effectively cuts off the lifeline sustaining terror networks.
Manoj Sinha highlighted that after years of enduring attacks on society by narco-terrorists, the Nasha-Mukt Bharat Initiative launched in 2020 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah marked a definitive turning point.
Recalling his 2021 pledge for a fear-free and drug-free Jammu and Kashmir, he expressed confidence that the chains trapping the youth in the dark web of drugs are breaking apart day by day through a comprehensive whole-of-government approach.
Detailing the enforcement actions taken during the intensive 51-day crackdown, the Lieutenant Governor revealed that 923 FIRs have been registered against drug traffickers, leading to the arrest of more than 1,000 drug smugglers and peddlers. Additionally, over 55 traffickers have been detained under PIT-NDPS provisions, 668 driving licenses have been cancelled, and recommendations have been made to revoke 124 passports.
Manoj Sinha reiterated that the administration’s strategy extends beyond raids and arrests to breaking supply chains entirely, generating widespread public awareness, and providing dignified rehabilitation for individuals suffering from addiction so they can return to the mainstream and lead the region toward a brighter tomorrow.