“I envision a Jammu Kashmir where every child grows up free from the shadow of addiction. A Jammu Kashmir where families are not torn apart by drugs. A Jammu Kashmir where society moves forward with security, dignity, and trust,” he said.
Mohammad Irfan
In one of the strongest public declarations against narcotics and narco-terrorism in recent years, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha asserted that there would be “no safe space” for drug peddlers in Jammu and Kashmir, as the administration intensified its large-scale anti-drug crackdown across the Union Territory. Addressing a massive “NashaMukt Jammu Kashmir” padyatra in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, the Lieutenant Governor revealed that nearly 800 FIRs have been registered and around 950 drug peddlers arrested within just 45 days of the intensified anti-drug campaign launched by the administration. The padyatra witnessed participation from thousands of students, youth volunteers, traders, teachers, women’s groups, civil society members, sports clubs, and local residents, turning the event into one of the biggest public mobilizations against drug abuse and narco-terror in recent years. The massive participation reflected growing public support for the administration’s anti-drug initiative and demonstrated the increasing awareness among people regarding the dangers posed by narcotics and substance abuse. Calling narcotics and narco-terrorism among the biggest threats facing Jammu and Kashmir, the Lieutenant Governor said the administration has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against drug trafficking networks and those attempting to destroy the future of the younger generation. “The money generated through drug trafficking is being used to fuel terrorism in the region. We will not allow this land to be on the agenda of terrorists,” Sinha said while addressing the gathering. He emphasized that security agencies and law enforcement institutions are fully committed to dismantling the narco-terror ecosystem operating in Jammu and Kashmir. “The action against narco-terrorists and drug smugglers will continue. It will not stop until every drug peddler is sent behind bars,” he asserted.
45-Day Campaign Producing Visible Results : The Lieutenant Governor highlighted that the anti-drug campaign launched over the last 45 days has already delivered substantial results through coordinated operations by police, security agencies, district administrations, and anti-narcotics units. According to official figures shared during the event, authorities have registered nearly 800 FIRs and arrested around 950 drug peddlers across Jammu and Kashmir during the ongoing crackdown. Officials said the campaign has focused not only on arresting peddlers but also on dismantling the larger financial and logistical infrastructure supporting narcotics trade in the region. The Lieutenant Governor said the administration is targeting every level of the drug trafficking network through intelligence-based operations and legal action. Authorities have booked 59 accused under the PITNDPS Act, reflecting the administration’s tougher legal approach against repeat offenders and organized narcotics syndicates. At the same time, the administration has moved aggressively against properties and assets allegedly created through proceeds generated from drug trafficking. The Lieutenant Governor revealed that authorities have recommended suspension of 457 driving licences, cancellation of 116 passports, and initiated proceedings for cancellation of registration of 606 vehicles allegedly linked to drug-related activities. “Every drug peddler is being searched and arrested. Those who destroyed the future of our children will not find any safe space in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said. Officials said the current campaign represents one of the most comprehensive anti-drug drives undertaken in Jammu and Kashmir in recent decades.
Public Mobilization Against Drugs: The “NashaMukt Jammu Kashmir” padyatra in Bandipora emerged as a major symbol of collective resistance against narcotics and addiction. Thousands of participants marched through the district carrying anti-drug banners and slogans while pledging support for a drug-free society. Students from schools and colleges, youth volunteers, sports clubs, local traders, social organizations, and members of civil society joined the campaign in large numbers, creating an atmosphere of unity and determination. Observers described the event as one of the largest public awareness mobilizations against drugs in north Kashmir in recent years. The Lieutenant Governor said the anti-drug campaign has now evolved into a people-driven movement supported by every section of society. “45 days ago, I pledged not only to dismantle smugglers and narco-terrorists ecosystem, but also to spark a movement that uplifts youth and restores dignity to families scarred by addiction,” he said. The Lieutenant Governor emphasized that Jammu and Kashmir today stands united with a common purpose and shared responsibility to eradicate drug abuse. “Jammu Kashmir is united, strong in resolve and clear in purpose and fully committed to freeing our society from drugs once and for all,” he said. The Government believes that public participation will remain one of the strongest pillars of the anti-drug mission going forward.
Narco-Terror, Security Concerns: Officials have repeatedly highlighted the growing link between narcotics trafficking and terror financing in Jammu and Kashmir. According to security agencies, proceeds generated through drug trafficking are often used to finance destabilizing activities and support networks involved in terrorism. The Lieutenant Governor reiterated that narcotics and narco-terrorism are not merely social challenges but also major security concerns. “The money generated through drug trafficking is being used to fuel terrorism in the region,” he said. Officials said the administration’s anti-drug strategy is therefore focused not only on controlling addiction but also on dismantling networks that threaten peace and stability in the Union Territory. The ongoing crackdown has reportedly led to the identification of several hidden supply chains and trafficking routes operating across districts. Security agencies are also intensifying intelligence-sharing and coordination to target organized narcotics syndicates and financial networks linked to drug trade. The Government’s aggressive approach against narco-financing is being viewed as an important component of Jammu and Kashmir’s broader security strategy.
Rehabilitation, Reintegration: While emphasizing strict action against drug traffickers, the administration has simultaneously focused on rehabilitation and reintegration of youth affected by addiction. The Lieutenant Governor announced that the government would soon introduce a comprehensive rehabilitation policy aimed at helping young people trapped in addiction rebuild their lives with dignity and confidence. “Our aim is that not a single young person is left behind. We will provide jobs, opportunities, and the means for them to live with dignity,” he said. He stressed that the success of the anti-drug movement would ultimately be measured by the number of lives transformed rather than only by arrests and seizures. “I strongly believe the success of a Drug-free Jammu Kashmir will not be measured only by the number of drug smugglers arrested but by the number of lives we can rebuild. It will be measured by the homes that can be restored and the young people who can fulfil their dreams,” the Lieutenant Governor said. The Government’s rehabilitation-oriented approach has been appreciated by healthcare professionals, educators, social workers, and civil society organizations, who believe long-term success depends equally on treatment, counseling, and social support. Experts note that rehabilitation initiatives can help reduce social stigma while encouraging affected youth to seek assistance without fear or isolation.
Waqar Knowledge Centre Inaugurated: A major highlight of the event was the inauguration of the Waqar Knowledge Centre (WKC) under the NashaMukt Bharat Abhiyan. The Centre has been developed as a constructive rehabilitation and youth engagement platform aimed at supporting recovering addiction cases and vulnerable youth. The Waqar Knowledge Centre includes a sports corner, badminton court, reading library, and an information desk that provides guidance regarding government schemes, educational opportunities, employment support, counseling, and skill development programmes. Officials said the administration plans to establish one Waqar Knowledge Centre in every block of Bandipora district in order to strengthen community-level rehabilitation support systems. The initiative is being viewed as a model intervention combining awareness, rehabilitation, recreation, and youth empowerment under one institutional framework. The Government believes the Centre will provide recovering youth with opportunities for positive engagement, confidence-building, and social reintegration. Officials also described the initiative as an important step towards ensuring that young people attempting to leave substance abuse behind receive continued institutional and community support.
“LG appealed to families, teachers, religious leaders, and responsible citizens to continue supporting the movement and strengthen awareness at the grassroots level. We need the vigilance, awareness, and commitment of every resident of Jammu Kashmir,” he said.
Youth-Centric Governance: The anti-drug movement also reflects the administration’s broader focus on youth-centric governance and social development initiatives. Over the past few years, the government has expanded sports infrastructure, skill development programmes, self-employment schemes, educational outreach initiatives, and youth engagement activities across Jammu and Kashmir. The Lieutenant Governor reiterated that protecting youth from addiction remains among the administration’s highest priorities. “I envision a Jammu Kashmir where every child grows up free from the shadow of addiction. A Jammu Kashmir where families are not torn apart by drugs. A Jammu Kashmir where society moves forward with security, dignity, and trust,” he said. Officials said nearly 3,000 youth clubs have already been established across Jammu and Kashmir to engage young people in constructive community-based activities and protect them from addiction and social vulnerability. Educationists and social organizations participating in the padyatra appreciated the administration’s efforts to involve schools, colleges, youth clubs, and local institutions directly in anti-drug awareness campaigns. Many experts believe that awareness and preventive education among adolescents and students can play a major role in reducing the spread of substance abuse in the future.
Role of Community, Civil Society: The administration has consistently emphasized that the anti-drug campaign cannot succeed through government action alone and requires active public participation. The Lieutenant Governor appealed to families, teachers, religious leaders, and responsible citizens to continue supporting the movement and strengthen awareness at the grassroots level. “We need the vigilance, awareness, and commitment of every resident of Jammu Kashmir,” he said. Religious scholars, teachers, youth leaders, and social organizations attending the event described the anti-drug campaign as a social responsibility requiring collective effort. Civil society groups welcomed the administration’s balanced approach of combining strict enforcement with rehabilitation and awareness. Many participants noted that community participation has significantly strengthened the reach and credibility of anti-drug campaigns across urban and rural areas alike. The Government believes that sustained public awareness, local vigilance, and positive youth engagement will remain crucial for the long-term success of the mission.
Kashmir Horizon View: Officials believe the current anti-drug campaign has already created a strong psychological deterrence against narcotics trafficking while simultaneously encouraging affected youth to seek help without stigma. The administration’s integrated strategy — combining law enforcement, rehabilitation support, youth engagement, institutional intervention, and public participation — is increasingly being viewed as a comprehensive model for addressing substance abuse in Jammu and Kashmir. Analysts say one of the biggest strengths of the movement lies in its positive messaging focused on hope, opportunity, recovery, and social unity. By positioning the anti-drug campaign as a collective mission for the future of Jammu and Kashmir, the administration has succeeded in generating broad-based public support. The Lieutenant Governor expressed confidence that the people of Jammu and Kashmir would ultimately defeat the menace of narco-terror through unity, awareness, and determination. “I believe that when people stand united, no narco-terror network or drug cartel can infiltrate them. When the public stands together, no terror can defeat them,” he said. As the massive padyatra concluded in Bandipora, the atmosphere reflected determination, optimism, and renewed confidence. The anti-drug movement is increasingly emerging not merely as a government programme but as a larger social movement driven by the collective vision of a healthier, safer, and addiction-free Jammu and Kashmir. With strong public participation, decisive governance, rehabilitation-focused policies, and youth-oriented initiatives, Jammu and Kashmir appears to be entering a new phase in its fight against narcotics and narco-terrorism. The message from Bandipora was loud and clear — Jammu and Kashmir stands united to protect its youth, secure its future, and eliminate the menace of drugs from society.
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