Kashmir’s Heartbeat Unites Against the Shadow of Drugs

Srinagar: Lal Chowk—Srinagar’s historic and symbolic city centre—transformed on Sunday into a sea of determination as thousands of people converged to take a solemn pledge to defend their homeland from the creeping menace of drug abuse.

The iconic square, long a witness to the Valley’s political and cultural tides, echoed with a different kind of resolve this time—a collective vow to protect the youth of Jammu and Kashmir from a crisis threatening to hollow out its future. Banners fluttered like warnings in the wind, placards carried by students, elders and women proclaimed a shared promise, and flags rose high as if to shield the Valley from becoming a graveyard of lost dreams. The message was unmistakable: Kashmir will not surrender its children to addiction.

The day had begun with a powerful padyatra from the TRC Football Grounds—a foot march that felt less like a procession and more like a people’s awakening. It marked a turning point in the Union Territory’s unprecedented, community-driven response to a growing narcotics crisis that has seeped into homes, schools and neighbourhoods. Recognising drug abuse as not just a law-and-order challenge but a profound social emergency, the J&K administration on April 11 launched a 100‑day mass movement to mobilise every layer of society. The aim is clear- to confront, contain and ultimately eradicate the narcotics threat that has already destroyed thousands of young lives.

Addressing the gathering before leading the march to Lal Chowk, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha described drug trafficking as a form of “silent terrorism”—a calculated assault on the youth, families and future of J&K. He declared that drug peddlers are enemies of the nation and will be dealt with accordingly. In just 22 days, he said, the anti-drug campaign has evolved into a true Jan Andolan, a people’s movement that now pulses through every mohalla, every lane and every household where addiction has drained vitality and hope.

The oath taken at Lal Chowk, Sinha emphasised, is not symbolic. It carries the weight of parents’ anguish, teachers’ concern and society’s collective grief over young lives slipping away. “This is not just a government pledge,” he said. “It is the resolve of every mother, every father and every teacher. People have declared—bohat hua, ab aur nahi hoga (Enough is enough, it will not happen anymore).

He recounted his visits to eight districts of Jammu division, where a single message echoed everywhere-We want our children back. We want our future back. Standing in the Kashmiri capital, he vowed that this future will be reclaimed at any cost.

The Lt. Governor also underscored the grave security dimension of the crisis. Drug trafficking, he said, is intertwined with terrorism, with networks across the border using narcotics money to fund violence and procure weapons. These narco networks, he warned, are targeting the most creative and productive segment of society—its youth—seeking to weaken families, corrode the economy and erode moral foundations. Yet, he affirmed, their designs will not be allowed to succeed.

With 78 days still remaining in the 100‑day campaign, Sinha urged citizens to intensify their participation. The administration, he said, is working simultaneously on breaking supply chains, spreading mass awareness and rehabilitating addicts. But the greatest weapon remains public involvement. “Police action and laws alone are not enough unless society stands together,” he said.

The scale of enforcement since April 11 reflects the seriousness of the effort: 481 FIRs registered, 518 drug smugglers arrested, 24 narco properties attached, nearly 300 driving licences suspended, several cancelled, five passports revoked, and over 325 vehicles seized. More than 3,000 drug stores have been inspected, with 107 licences suspended. Financial trails of drug syndicates are being tracked meticulously, and police stations are maintaining photo galleries of peddlers to ensure no offender escapes scrutiny. “Where there is guilt, there will be no mercy,” Sinha said, reiterating zero tolerance. “But the innocent will not be touched.”

He called upon citizens to act as the administration’s “eyes and ears,” urging communities to identify traffickers and cooperate with authorities. Religious leaders, imams, teachers, women’s groups and youth clubs were asked to step forward. “The time for silence is over,” he declared. More than 70,000 people have already joined the movement, with social organisations playing a pivotal role, he said.

In a compassionate appeal, Sinha reminded the public that drug users are victims who need treatment, not stigma. “Taking drugs is not ‘cool’,” he said. “Those trapped must be helped with care and dignity.” He reaffirmed that the days of those trying to destroy J&K through narcotics are numbered, and that the pledge to build a drug-free society will be fulfilled with unwavering determination.

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg echoed this sentiment, noting that the ‘Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyaan’ has rapidly evolved into a mass movement within just three weeks. Over 30,000 awareness programmes have been conducted across the Valley, reaching every village and ward. More than 3,000 religious leaders have joined the effort, amplifying the message from pulpits and community gatherings. Alongside awareness, enforcement has intensified, with hotspots identified and strict action taken against traffickers. Measures involving driving licences, Aadhaar, passports, property and revenue records are being invoked to deter offenders.

At the grassroots level, Nambardar and Chowkidar networks have been activated, and district control rooms have received over 2,000 public calls leading to swift action. Nearly 98 percent of public institutions have been integrated into the campaign, ensuring transparency through open billing and stock registers. The next phase will focus on rehabilitation and counselling, with trained counsellors deployed across schools, colleges and block-level institutions, he said.

Garg expressed gratitude to youth groups, NGOs, civil society and the media for their vital role, urging continued public participation to sustain the momentum. The movement, he said, is no longer just an administrative initiative—it is the collective heartbeat of a society determined to save its future.