Srinagar, April 21: In a sweeping move aimed at curbing the rising drug menace in Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has launched an intensive anti-drug drive “Nasha Mukht J&K Abhiyan” and strong crackdown on drug networks to eliminate drug trade in the Union Territory and save youth from falling prey to narcotics. The people across Jammu and Kashmir are rallying behind the campaign.

The 100-day “Nasha Mukht J&K Abhiyan,” which was launched by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on April 11, is aimed to dismantle drug supply chains by going after the drug networks.
The administration has granted law enforcement agencies powers to seize and attach properties linked to drug traffickers. Authorities can also freeze bank accounts, cancel Aadhaar credentials, and revoke driving licenses of those found involved in the drug trade.
There has been a surge in drug addiction in Jammu and Kashmir in the last few years and as per estimates from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment over 1.3 million adults in Jammu and Kashmir are using addictive substances, with opioids emerging as the most commonly consumed drugs.
“This Nasha Mukht J&K Abhiyan is not merely a policing effort but a comprehensive assault on the ecosystem of drug trade in the UT,” a police official said.
In a first, the administration recently demolished a property of a drug peddler constructed on state land in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Sources said police officials have directed all the police stations in the UT to identify and prepare a list of top drug peddlers’ in their jurisdictions so that a decisive action is taken against them.
The exercise, which must be completed within a month, is aimed at enabling targeted and coordinated action against key players in the drug ecosystem, they said.
This follows Lt Governor Manoj Sinha's direction to police to dismantle the drug network in the UT in 30 days.
The anti-drug drive has evoked widespread support from across the political spectrum, with leaders from various parties endorsing the tough stance. Religious leaders, traders, and civil society groups have supported the initiative and called it both timely and necessary.
The growing drug crisis is seen as a threat to the region's youth and stability. It has pushed communities to call for sustained enforcement and accountability.
According to Lt Governor Sinha, J&K is at a critical juncture and under a conspiracy, youth are being lured to drugs to destroy their future.
“Every section of the society must join this fight against drug menace”, he said and directed law enforcement agencies to launch continuous and intensive drives to dismantle drug trafficking networks. We must identify the real victims of drug abuse and make committed efforts for their rehabilitation,” the Lieutenant Governor has said.
UT and Divisional Level Committees have been constituted for effective implementation of the 100-days Nasha Mukht campaign and action plan.
Police has sought active public cooperation in combating the growing drug menace in the UT.
The IGP Kashmir V K Birdi has urged people to come forward and share information with police about those involved in drug peddling and smuggling activities in these areas.
“The community participation is crucial to the success of the drive,” he has said.
Besides enforcement, authorities are also focusing on awareness and rehabilitation. Extensive outreach campaigns are planned in schools and colleges to educate youth about the dangers of substance abuse.
According to experts, if the momentum of the anti-drug drive is maintained, this Nasha Mukht J&K Abhiyan could well become a defining chapter in J&K’s resolve to reclaim its future from the grip of drugs.