Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday launched the 100-day long ‘Drug Free Jammu and Kashmir Campaign’ and announced punitive measures against drug smugglers.

“Passports, Aadhaar cards and driving licenses of drug smugglers will be cancelled. Their movable and immovable properties will be confiscated, bank accounts will be frozen and financial investigations will be initiated,” he said.

Addressing a gathering at the Maulana Azad Stadium, the LG said the fight against drug abuse is a collective responsibility. This evil has spread to every village, every district and every section of the society. He said that a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been implemented to dismantle the drug network economically and legally.

Manoj Sinha said that top drug smugglers will be publicly identified at the police station level to ensure accountability and teach others a lesson. Drug trafficking is being used as a weapon to finance terrorism and destabilize society.

“A neighboring country is sending drugs to hollow out our youth. Every consignment that reaches here is not only poison but also a weapon against our future,” he said.

He directed the enforcement agencies to adopt the principle of “don’t harass the innocent, but don’t let the guilty escape”.

Launching the campaign on Saturday, the LG called for ‘Pad Yatra’ and massive awareness campaign across Jammu and Kashmir. He urged the youth, civil society and community leaders to take the reins of this movement into their own hands.

“This fight cannot be won by the administration alone. The entire society has to come together,” he said. He stressed that women, especially mothers and sisters, have an important role in preventing drug abuse. Their awareness can transform entire communities.

LG said that the next 100 days are very important. He outlined a multi-pronged strategy, which includes intensive awareness campaigns at the grassroots level, counseling support in schools, colleges and universities, sustained community engagement in villages and towns and targeted outreach to vulnerable sections to curb the growing drug crisis.

He said that the government has notified ‘Jammu and Kashmir Drug Abuse Disorders Treatment, Counseling and Rehabilitation Centers Rules, 2026’ to ensure proper functioning of de-addiction centres.

“Only those genuine centers which have adequate staff and facilities will be allowed to function. Strict action will be taken against those violating the rules,” he said.

The Lieutenant Governor said that people affected by drug addiction will be given full support for treatment, counseling and rehabilitation. We must help the victims return to normal life, as well as take strict action against those who trap them.