The Lieutenant Governor’s padyatra in Anantnag under the Drug-Free Jammu and Kashmir Campaign was not merely a public programme. It was a strong call to society to wake up, speak out and stand united against a menace that is damaging youth, weakening families and threatening social peace. Drug abuse can no longer be treated as a hidden family problem or a distant law-and-order issue. It has become a serious public health concern, a social challenge and, in the sensitive context of Jammu and Kashmir, a dangerous security threat linked with narco-terror networks.
The appeal to break the silence is both soft in spirit and aggressive in purpose. Addiction grows where families remain silent, where neighbours look away, where schools hesitate to intervene, and where communities fear stigma more than destruction. This silence must end. Every parent, teacher, religious leader, sportsperson, artist, youth club member and civil society representative must speak openly about the dangers of drugs. The war against narcotics will not be won by the administration alone. It has to become a people’s movement in every village, ward, school, college, playground and public platform. The Lieutenant Governor’s emphasis on a whole-of-society approach is timely and necessary. Police can arrest peddlers, administration can attach properties, and agencies can seal establishments, but society must ensure that drug peddlers do not find shelter, sympathy or silence in any neighbourhood. The people must identify early signs of addiction, guide vulnerable youth towards counselling and rehabilitation, and report suspicious activities without fear. A community that remains alert becomes the strongest wall against drug networks. At the same time, the administration’s firm action in Anantnag sends a clear and aggressive message. Since April 11, as many as 108 NDPS cases have been registered in the district. Properties worth Rs 3.5 crore, described as narco-palaces built from drug money, have been demolished. Twenty-two vehicles have been seized, eight driving licences and vehicle registrations have been cancelled, and 13 drug stores have been sealed for legal violations. These measures show that the campaign is not limited to slogans. It is striking at the roots of the illegal network. Drug peddling is not an ordinary crime. It is a calculated assault on the future of youth. Those who earn money by destroying young lives deserve no sympathy. The alleged use of drug money for terrorism, radicalisation and weapon procurement makes the issue even more alarming. In Jammu and Kashmir, narco-terrorism must be fought with total seriousness because it poisons society from within while feeding forces that aim to disturb peace. The supply chain, financiers, facilitators and local supporters of this trade must face strict and lawful action. However, while peddlers must be punished firmly, victims of addiction must be treated with compassion. A young person trapped in drugs is often a victim of bad influence, pressure, trauma, unemployment, neglect or organised exploitation. Such youth need counselling, medical treatment, family support and social reintegration. A drug-free Jammu and Kashmir will not be achieved only through arrests. It will be achieved when affected youth are rescued, rehabilitated and given a meaningful path back to life. The role of women and youth is central in this campaign. Mothers, sisters, students and youth club members often notice the first signs of distress within families and localities. Their courage can save lives. Religious leaders can offer moral guidance. Teachers can identify vulnerable students. Sportspersons can inspire discipline and healthy ambition. Artists can use theatre, music and traditional performances to create awareness. Every section has a role, and no section can remain neutral. The laying of foundation stones for sports infrastructure projects worth Rs 20.60 crore in Anantnag adds a positive and preventive dimension to the campaign. Sports facilities can help channel the energy of youth towards discipline, teamwork, confidence and constructive goals. If such facilities are properly maintained and made accessible, they can become strong protective spaces against addiction.
The next 71 days of the campaign must be used with urgency and discipline. Every panchayat, vulnerable area, school and public institution must be covered. Awareness must be loud, rehabilitation must be accessible and enforcement must be fearless. The soft message is to save the youth with care. The aggressive message is to crush the drug network without compromise. Jammu and Kashmir must stand together and declare clearly that peddlers will not be allowed to destroy its future.