Will hunt down narco-terror network to its deepest hideouts: LG Manoj Sinha in Pulwama
Srinagar, May 19 (KINS): Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday joined the Nasha-Mukt Jammu and Kashmir campaign in Pulwama and called upon people to deliver the “final blow” against drug abuse by collectively dismantling the narco-terror network operating in the Union Territory.
Addressing a public gathering, the Lieutenant Governor said the anti-drug movement had transformed into a mass public campaign across Jammu and Kashmir, with citizens from all walks of life actively participating in the fight against narcotics and terrorism.
“This past month, Jammu Kashmir has witnessed a remarkable awakening of public spirit. From Baramulla to Jammu, Samba, Udhampur, Kathua, Srinagar and Pulwama, I have seen youth and parents stand firmly united against drugs,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor said that over the last 39 days, the silence that once surrounded the issue of drug abuse in Jammu and Kashmir had finally been broken.
“Neighbours became each other’s support and today that silence has turned into a loud collective outcry against drugs. Our fight is against a vast narco-terror network fuelled by fear, greed and destruction,” he said.
Highlighting the scale of the campaign in Pulwama, the Lieutenant Governor said more than 11,000 local events had been organised in recent days. He added that FIRs had been registered against 48 drug smugglers while 56 traffickers had been arrested in the district.
“These figures show that we are striking directly at the roots of terror,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor asserted that drug smuggling in Jammu and Kashmir could no longer be viewed as an ordinary crime, saying narcotics trafficking and terrorism were deeply interconnected.
“For decades, drug smuggling was treated merely as a local crime. People must now realise that the drug smuggler and the terrorist are two sides of the same coin,” he said.
“Drug smugglers profit by destroying the future of our youth, while terror outfits use that money to fuel terrorism and radicalisation in Jammu and Kashmir. Every drug deal not only ruins a young life but also finances the killing of innocent citizens,” he added.
Reaffirming his administration’s resolve, the Lieutenant Governor warned narco-terror elements that law enforcement agencies would continue aggressive action against them.
“We will hunt you down even in your deepest hideouts. Our mission is not just arrests but the complete destruction of the narco-terror empire and tearing out the very roots from which this poison spreads,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor said that since April 11, around 897 drug smugglers and peddlers had been arrested across Jammu and Kashmir. Recommendations had also been made for cancellation of passports of 18 traffickers, while driving licences of 382 traffickers and registrations of 386 vehicles had been cancelled.
He further said that 49 immovable properties linked to drug trafficking had been seized and 45 illegal properties demolished.
Sharing details of enforcement measures, the Lieutenant Governor said nearly 5,045 drug stores across Jammu and Kashmir had been inspected. Licences of 225 drug stores were suspended, licences of 27 stores cancelled and FIRs registered against six establishments.
He said over 3.93 lakh awareness programmes had been organised across the Union Territory since April 11, with millions of people participating in outreach activities.
To strengthen monitoring and rehabilitation efforts, 6,646 village women’s committees and 2,997 youth clubs had been formed across Jammu and Kashmir, he said, adding that more than 100 helpline calls were being received daily while over 52,000 patients had undergone treatment at addiction treatment facilities so far.
“As this 100-day campaign advances, we must keep its momentum alive. Stopping even one peddler saves a life, and every life saved weakens terror in the Valley. Together, we will break the chains of addiction, end terrorism and secure the future of Jammu and Kashmir,” the Lieutenant Governor said.(KINS)
