LG Sinha orders crackdown on drug networks

Jammu, Mar 28: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday directed the authorities to crackdown on narcotics trade in Jammu and Kashmir.

Reviewing the progress of Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan in J&K at a high-level meeting at Lok Bhavan Jammu, LG Sinha directed for a massive crackdown on smuggling networks that target the youth of Jammu and Kashmir.

“Deliberate and sinister efforts are being made to push the youth of J&K into the abyss of drug addiction. A comprehensive, whole-of-government approach, combining stringent enforcement, robust preventive measures, and a carefully calibrated multi-pronged action plan, is urgently required to dismantle the entire ecosystem of drug smuggling and narco-terrorism,” he said.

The LG called for Jan Bhagidari and a coordinated response against drug abuse for achieving the goal of Nasha Mukt J&K.

The meeting discussed five key focused areas – enforcement, IEC, counselling, treatment, and rehabilitation, while integrating a rigorous social media monitoring system to counter false narratives.

LG Sinha directed the officials for implementation of deterrents, especially within educational institutions, in mission mode.

He directed for identifying and strictly punishing any remnants of narco-terror networks within the system.

The LG emphasised that the citizens must be encouraged to report the drug addiction and drug smuggling related matters to the Police and the administration.

He also reviewed the preparations of all the line departments for the upcoming intensive drug awareness campaign across J&K.

“Religious leaders, social organisations, ex-servicemen, NCC, NSS, Scouts and Guides, and political leaders must be taken on-board in the fight against drug addiction,” LG Sinha said.

He directed for assessment of activities conducted under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan over the past one year.

The meeting also discussed the onboarding of all the districts on Nasha Mukt J&K portal, engagement of nodal officers, ongoing community outreach programmes, training and capacity building, strengthening and expansion of de-addiction infrastructure and human resource, operationalisation of addiction treatment facilities, drug de-addiction registry portal, implementation of SoPs, and activities undertaken by the line departments.

The meeting was attended by Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary; Nalin Prabhat, DGP; Shailendra Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary, Finance Department; Chandraker Bharti, Principal Secretary Home; Mandeep K Bhandari, Principal Secretary to LG; M Raju, Commissioner Secretary to Government, Health and Medical Education Department; Administrative Secretaries; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Bhim Sen Tuti, IGP Jammu; Sujit Kumar, IGP Security J&K, and other senior officials.

On the sidelines of the meeting, the LG directed the senior officials to prioritise vibrant villages programme, with a dedicated focus on inclusive development of border villages.