Sinha to lead padyatra at Lal Chowk today
Stringent SOP to crack down on traffickers
Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said the Jammu and Kashmir administration has put in place a stringent Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to crack down on drug traffickers, even as a mass movement gains momentum across the Union Territory to build a drug-free future.
Speaking to national news agencies ahead of a mega padyatra under the ‘Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyaan’ scheduled in Srinagar, the Lieutenant Governor said anyone found involved in drug trafficking will face criminal proceedings along with multiple punitive measures.
These include cancellation of driving licences, termination of vehicle registrations, freezing of bank accounts, attachment of properties under the NDPS Act, and recommendations for revocation of passports.
He added that action may also be taken regarding Aadhaar cards and lookout notices issued against absconders.
Sinha underlined that drug trafficking in Jammu and Kashmir has a direct link with terrorism and radicalisation.
“Some drug traffickers may be building narco palaces and becoming economically prosperous, but ultimately most of the money goes into fuelling terrorism and radicalisation,” he said.
He said the administration is simultaneously focusing on prevention and rehabilitation.
A detailed plan is being prepared under which recovered addicts will be monitored for three years to ensure their proper rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
“It is true that more rehabilitation centres are required, but since they cannot be built immediately, arrangements are being made in the existing centres for treatment of victims. The Health Department has been directed to ensure adequate OPD and IPD facilities in hospitals for such patients,” he said.
Emphasising a collective approach, the Lieutenant Governor said the fight against drug abuse requires the combined strength of law enforcement and society.
“This battle can only be won with collective efforts. When police action, fear of law and the strength of society come together, success becomes easier,” he said.
As part of the campaign, Sinha will lead a foot march from the Astro Turf Football Stadium at TRC Chowk to Lal Chowk in Srinagar on Sunday.
Earlier, in a post on X, the Lieutenant Governor appealed to citizens to join the mega padyatra on May 3 at the TRC Football Stadium and stand united to build a safer and healthier Jammu and Kashmir for future generations.
The appeal comes amid a 100-day intensive ‘Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir’ campaign launched by the Lieutenant Governor on April 11 from the Maulana Azad Stadium in Jammu. The time-bound mission, running from April 10 to July 9, 2026, has been conceived as a ‘Jan Andolan’ involving youth, parents, teachers and religious leaders.
The administration has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against drug peddlers, while treating addicts as victims in need of care, counselling and rehabilitation rather than stigma or criminalisation.
The 100-day action plan includes awareness workshops, sports events and educational campaigns aimed at sensitising the public, particularly youth and women, about the dangers of substance abuse.
According to officials, the campaign has already reached over 2.5 million people in its early stages and aims to deliver measurable outcomes in terms of identifying users, rehabilitating victims and prosecuting drug smugglers. (With inputs from KINS)
