Srinagar, May 9 : In a massive show of strength against the narco-terror network, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday joined a ‘Padyatra’ in Anantnag district as part of the ‘Drug-Free J&K Campaign’, issuing a blunt warning to Pakistan and drug smugglers that their “narco-palaces” will be razed and their networks uprooted.
Addressing a charged public gathering after the march, the LG made a fervent appeal to the people to “break the silence” and win the war against substance abuse. “This challenge can be eradicated only through a ‘Whole of Society Approach’,” he asserted.
“From now on, every corner of this Union Territory—whether schools, colleges, families, sports grounds, or theatre stages—must speak in one voice against this menace. This is a firm resolve,” the LG said, flanked by top police and civil officials.
Narco-terror nexus exposed
In a scathing attack, Sinha exposed the deep conspiracy behind the drug influx. “Our neighboring country is smuggling drugs into Jammu & Kashmir by design. Drug money has built ‘narco-palaces’, and a large portion of these funds is being funneled into terrorism and radicalization,” he charged.
He emphasized that drugs and terrorism are not separate challenges but “two faces of the same coin.” “While drugs destroy our youth, terror outfits use the same money to buy weapons to shed the blood of our brothers and sisters. This narco-terror network has inflicted suffering on generations of J&K for decades. We will not rest until it is defeated,” the LG declared.
Decisive blow in Anantnag
Showcasing the administration’s iron fist, the LG revealed staggering statistics from Anantnag district alone.“Since April 11, the highest number of 108 NDPS cases have been registered. Narco-palaces worth Rs 3.5 crore, built with black money from drugs, have been reduced to dust,” he announced to loud applause.
He added that 22 vehicles have been seized, eight driving licenses and vehicle registrations cancelled, and 13 drug stores sealed for violating the law. “I assure the people of Anantnag – not a single smuggler will be left untouched. The entire machinery involved in drug smuggling will be uprooted from its roots,” the LG warned.
71-day blitzkrieg
Calling for a time-bound action plan, Sinha directed the police and civil administration to cover every panchayat of Anantnag, focusing on vulnerable areas in the next 71 days of the campaign. He also laid the foundation stone for sports infrastructure projects worth Rs 20.60 crore, including a Khel Gaon in Jablipora, to channel youth energy in the right direction.
The LG made a special appeal to women, youth clubs, sportspersons, teachers, and religious leaders. “Religious leaders are people’s guides. I want them to provide moral guidance to youth. This is not just the administration’s battle – it is society’s collective war,” he said, reiterating his commitment to ensuring justice to every terror victim family.
Artists performed traditional ‘Nukad Natak’ and ‘Baand Pather’ to raise awareness, as the LG felicitated youth icons and distributed sports kits, vowing to make Jammu & Kashmir drug-free. (KNS)
