L-G Sinha completes anti-drug Padyatra across all 20 J&K districts
Synopsis
J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has wrapped up a 57-day, 20-district anti-drug Padyatra in Poonch — a border district where geography itself is exploited by narco-terrorists. With 1,130-plus arrests, 100 properties attached, and 700 driving licences cancelled, the campaign is now pivoting to a 43-day community mobilisation push that puts youth clubs and women at the front lines.
Key Takeaways
L-G Manoj Sinha completed the 'Drug-Free Jammu and Kashmir' Padyatra across all 20 districts on 7 June , concluding in Poonch .
Over 1,130 smugglers arrested under 1,038 FIRs during the 57-day campaign.
63 individuals detained under the PIT-NDPS Act ; more than 100 properties attached.
700 driving licences cancelled; moves initiated to revoke 130 passports of those involved in drug offences.
Next 43-day phase to focus on panchayat- and household-level mobilisation, with Youth Clubs and women in leadership roles.
A new SOP mandates immediate cancellation of passports, licences, and Aadhaar linkages for drug smugglers under the NDPS Act .
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday, 7 June completed the 'Drug-Free Jammu and Kashmir' anti-drug Padyatra campaign across all 20 districts of the Union Territory, culminating the march in Poonch district. The milestone marks the end of a 57-day outreach in which Sinha personally visited every district of J&K to rally citizens, law enforcement, and local bodies against drug trafficking and narco-terrorism.
Key Developments
Addressing residents in Poonch, L-G Sinha announced that over the course of the 57-day campaign, authorities have arrested more than 1,130 smugglers under 1,038 FIRs, detained 63 individuals under the PIT-NDPS Act (Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988), and attached more than 100 properties. Additionally, 700 driving licences have been cancelled and moves are underway to revoke 130 passports of those implicated in drug-related offences.
A newly issued standard operating procedure, according to Sinha, mandates immediate and severe consequences for individuals involved in drug smuggling — including cancellation of passports, driving licences, arms licences, and Aadhaar linkages, alongside attachment of movable and immovable assets under the NDPS Act.
Why Poonch Was the Final Stop
Sinha highlighted Poonch's strategic significance as a border district, noting that narco-terrorists actively exploit its geography. 'Cross-border drug smuggling is destroying young lives and, at the same time, financing terrorism,' he said, calling for a 'whole-of-society approach' to confront the dual threat. This is consistent with a broader security concern in J&K, where drug supply chains have been repeatedly linked to cross-border terror financing networks.
The 43-Day Push Ahead
With the Padyatra phase concluded, L-G Sinha announced that the next 43 days will focus on intensifying ground-level action across every panchayat, ward, and household. The campaign's strategy rests on two pillars: mobilising Youth Clubs as frontline defenders against local drug networks, and placing women in leadership roles so that mothers and sisters can drive village-level awareness. Law enforcement agencies have been given, in Sinha's words, 'a free hand' to dismantle the narco-terror ecosystem entirely.
What the Government Said
'The fight for a drug-free Jammu and Kashmir intensifies today from Poonch. For the next 43 days, every citizen, Panchayat, and ward must unite to target drug smugglers, drug peddlers, drive awareness, and accelerate rehabilitation,' Sinha said. He added that a shift from a 'not my problem' mindset to collective action is essential, arguing that public silence only emboldens traffickers. 'Our determination is unwavering, our unity invincible, and our mission is to win,' he declared.
Impact on Citizens and Youth
Sinha emphasised that true prevention lies in equipping youth with purpose — through education, skills development, and sports — rather than relying on enforcement alone. He called on the J&K Police and all narcotics agencies to ensure no drug smuggler or peddler operates within their jurisdiction. The campaign is intended to become a permanent fixture in public consciousness, not a one-time drive.
Point of View
But the real measure will come in the 43 days ahead — and beyond. Arrest tallies and property attachments are enforcement metrics; they do not yet tell us whether supply chains are permanently disrupted or merely stressed. Poonch's border geography makes the narco-terror linkage genuinely acute, yet the campaign's success will ultimately hinge on whether community mobilisation outlasts the L-G's personal presence. Structural solutions — youth employment, cross-border intelligence coordination, and sustained judicial follow-through — are what convert a padyatra into a policy outcome.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Drug-Free Jammu and Kashmir' Padyatra campaign?
It is an anti-drug outreach drive led by J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in which he personally marched through all 20 districts of the Union Territory over 57 days to mobilise citizens, law enforcement, and local bodies against drug trafficking and narco-terrorism. The campaign combines mass awareness with strict enforcement measures under the NDPS Act.
Why did the Padyatra conclude in Poonch?
Poonch was chosen as the final stop because it is a border district where, according to L-G Sinha, narco-terrorists actively exploit the geography for cross-border drug smuggling that simultaneously finances terrorism. The district represents one of the most acute pressure points in J&K's drug supply chain.
How many arrests and seizures have been made during the campaign?
During the 57-day campaign, more than 1,130 smugglers were arrested under 1,038 FIRs, 63 individuals were detained under the PIT-NDPS Act, and more than 100 properties were attached. Additionally, 700 driving licences were cancelled and 130 passports are being revoked.
What happens in the next phase of the campaign?
L-G Sinha announced a 43-day intensification phase focused on making every panchayat, ward, and household drug-free. The strategy centres on mobilising Youth Clubs as frontline defenders and placing women in leadership roles to drive village-level awareness and rehabilitation.
What new measures have been introduced against drug smugglers in J&K?
A newly issued standard operating procedure mandates immediate cancellation of passports, driving licences, arms licences, and Aadhaar linkages for individuals involved in drug smuggling, alongside attachment of movable and immovable assets under the NDPS Act. Law enforcement agencies have been given a free hand to dismantle narco-terror networks.
