Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, June 1

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday invoked the teachings of revered Sufi saints Mir Syed Hussain Simnani and Sheikh-ul-Alam, also known as Nund Reshi, saying their spiritual legacy could help strengthen the fight against drug addiction in the region.

Addressing a gathering ahead of a mega anti-drug walkathon under the ‘Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyaan’ in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, LG Sinha described the area as a sacred land associated with the two saints and said their teachings would support efforts to eliminate substance abuse.

“Kulgam is a sacred land of Mir Syed Hussain Simnani and Nund Reshi. Their teachings and blessings will surely help in eradicating the drug menace in J&K,” he said.

The LG said he stood with families affected by addiction and described the anti-drug campaign, launched 51 days ago, as having evolved into a mass movement involving citizens, educational institutions, religious leaders, women’s groups, youth organisations and civil society.

He said J&K had faced both long-running militancy and rising drug abuse, which he said had harmed young people in the region.

LG Sinha said security forces and civil administration had stepped up action against narcotics networks under a “whole-of-government, whole-of-society” approach.

According to him, 923 FIRs have been registered in narcotics-related cases over the past 50 days and more than 1,000 alleged drug peddlers have been arrested across J&K.

He said over 56 major accused had been detained under preventive laws, more than 600 driving licences had been suspended, and 124 cases had been processed for passport revocation.

“This is a difficult and ongoing process,” the LG said, adding that enforcement alone would not solve the problem.

He stressed the need for family participation, rehabilitation, and social reintegration of drug users, saying addicts should be treated with dignity and compassion rather than as criminals.

“The youth addicted to drugs are real victims and must be treated with respect, compassion and care,” LG Sinha said.

He said rehabilitation facilities would be expanded and treatment services strengthened at the district level.

Senior officials, including Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Deputy Commissioner, Kulgam, senior police officers, and other administrative representatives attended the event, along with CPI (M) leader and Kulgam MLA Muhammad Yusuf Tarigami.