JAMMU: June 6 Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday led a massive padyatra in Kishtwar as the ongoing drug-free J&K campaign reached its19th district, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to eliminating drug abuse and narco-terrorism from the Union Territory.
The Lieutenant Governor said the fight against drugs is a long-term battle that requires sustained, round-the-clock efforts and collective participation.
Addressing a public rally in Kishtwar, the Lieutenant Governor said authorities were breaking the chain of the drug trade at every level and vowed stringent action against drug smugglers and narco-terrorists.
“We are breaking the chain of the drug trade at every single link. Whether it’s cross-border smugglers, peddlers or terror financiers, there is no safe haven. Our agencies are hunting down every narco-terrorist and permanently dismantling their networks,” Sinha said.
He said that during the last 56 days, people from all walks of life had participated in the campaign across Jammu and Kashmir, sharing the pain of affected families and inspiring youth to stay away from drugs. “Our goal is to foster a grassroots resistance against drug abuse and end narco-terrorism,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor, who launched the campaign on April 11, noted that it had now covered 19 districts of Jammu and Kashmir, strengthening public resolve to eradicate drugs from villages and towns.
“For 56 days, I have pursued a single mission of eliminating every drug smuggler and narco-terrorist from this land. Narco-terrorists and drug smugglers, whether in Pulwama or Ramban, Kulgam or Kishtwar, must understand that there will be no mercy for those who ruin the future of our young generation,” he said.
Referring to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sinha said there would be no leniency towards narco-terrorists, while individuals seeking to overcome addiction would continue to receive support and rehabilitation.
“We are ensuring that drug addicts who seek a path to recovery are provided all possible assistance and brought back into the mainstream with compassion and dignity. But compassion cannot be wasted on narco-terrorists who profit from others’ ruin,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor said the 100-day Drug-Free J&K Campaign was only the beginning of a larger and sustained effort against the menace.
“It is a war of years, not a battle of weeks. Victory demands a unified, roundthe-clock commitment. By mobilising a whole-of-society approach, we will ensure that Jammu and Kashmir’s soil is completely cleared of drug smugglers and peddlers,” he said.
He said that the people from different walks of life reaffirmed their commitment to building a drug-free society and combating the menace of narcotics across the Union Territory.
“Today, as the drug-free J&K campaign culminates in a massive padyatra in Kishtwar, citizens have resoundingly reaffirmed their commitment to the cause. Our goal is to foster a grassroots resistance against drug abuse and end narco-terrorism,” Sinha said.
Making an appeal from the “sacred land of Kishtwar”, the Lieutenant Governor said Jammu and Kashmir is strongest when its people stand united against drugs and work collectively for hope, change and a better future.
“Every voice matters, every action counts and together we can create a safer and healthier Union Territory,” he said.
Sinha said the administration was embedding the spirit of the campaign into communities by empowering citizens to identify early signs of addiction and intervene in time.
He lauded the role of teachers, Panchayat Mahila Samitis, religious leaders and civil society organisations in strengthening the movement and safeguarding the future of the youth.
“This is a defining moment for the future of our children. The people have spoken with one voice that narco-terrorists must be driven from this land,” he added.
He said that during the past 56 days, authorities had registered 1,026 FIRs, arrested 1,128 drug smugglers, attached more than 100 properties linked to smugglers, cancelled nearly 700 driving licences and recommended cancellation of passports of 130 accused drug traffickers.
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