SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday asserted that the administration will act firmly against drug networks while emphasising that the battle against substance abuse must be fought collectively by society. Addressing a gathering in Samba as part of the ongoing 100-day drug-free Jammu and Kashmir campaign, he said the initiative aims to eradicate the menace and build a future free from drugs.
He stressed that the success of the campaign would be judged not by symbolic activities but by measurable outcomes, including the number of rehabilitated individuals, prosecutions of smugglers, closure of illegal centres, cases registered, contraband seized, and formation of women’s committees at Panchayat and ward levels.
The Lieutenant Governor directed Deputy Commissioners, Senior Superintendents of Police and other enforcement agencies to conduct regular audits of the campaign, ensuring a comprehensive approach covering identification, counselling, treatment, recovery and rehabilitation of affected individuals.
Warning of external involvement, Sinha said the drug crisis had been systematically fuelled by a neighbouring country to finance terrorism and destabilise society, with youth being deliberately targeted. He called for the strictest legal action against those involved in narcotics trafficking and related conspiracies.
He urged sustained public participation over the remaining 85 days of the campaign, highlighting that drug addiction is a societal crisis rather than an individual issue. He noted increasing community involvement, with parents, teachers and survivors actively spreading awareness and sharing experiences to prevent substance abuse.
Describing the movement as a “people’s resolve” rather than a government directive, the Lieutenant Governor said the campaign has already brought visible change in public attitudes within a short span.
On the occasion, he also flagged off a bike rally and launched the Samba Cricket Premier League under the Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir Abhiyaan.
