Drug Money Reaches Terror Groups, Supply Chain Being Broken: LG Sinha | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday said the administration has intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking networks in the Union Territory, asserting that narcotics money ultimately reaches terror groups and fuels militancy.

In an interview with a national news channel, Sinha said the Omar Abdullah-led government was functioning properly and reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir would get statehood at the “appropriate time”, as assured by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament.

He said the anti-drug campaign launched from Jammu on April 11 had now turned into a mass movement with the participation of youth, women, religious leaders, teachers, civil society groups and political workers.

Sinha said the campaign was part of the “Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan” launched in 2020, but added that the growing drug menace in Jammu and Kashmir required stronger intervention due to rising addiction among youth.

“Drug money ultimately reaches terror organisations. It is used for weapons, radicalisation and terrorism,” he said.

The Lieutenant Governor said narcotics were entering Jammu and Kashmir through border areas such as Tangdhar, Gurez, Kathua and Samba, while drone-dropping had also emerged as a challenge.

He said the administration was working on three fronts — breaking the supply chain, spreading awareness and strengthening rehabilitation measures.

According to Sinha, more than 766 FIRs have been registered and 856 people arrested during the campaign so far. He said over 677 kilograms of narcotics had been seized in recent weeks and properties worth more than Rs 52 crore linked to drug smugglers attached.

Authorities were also initiating cancellation of passports, driving licences and vehicle registrations of people involved in drug trafficking, he said.

“We are carrying out systematic action against identified smugglers. This is not random enforcement,” Sinha said.

He said the administration was preparing a rehabilitation policy under which recovering addicts would be monitored and assisted for three years, while treatment expenses would be borne by the administration.

“We want those affected by addiction to return to the mainstream and not go back into the same cycle,” he said.

Sinha said hospitals and medical colleges had been directed to reserve facilities for treatment of drug addicts till more rehabilitation centres were established.

On the security situation, he said militant recruitment had reduced significantly and most top commanders of militant outfits had been eliminated, though infiltration attempts from across the border continued.

Referring to the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor, Sinha said the Army, CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police had acted jointly against those involved.

He also said Jammu and Kashmir had witnessed improvements in tourism, infrastructure and economic activity over the past few years, adding that public participation against terrorism and drug abuse reflected a shift in response across the Union Territory.(KNS).