Srinagar, May 09 (KNO): The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Saturday said the ongoing 100-day “Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyan” has witnessed large-scale public participation and intensified anti-narcotics action across the Union Territory, with over one crore people taking part in awareness programmes and 646 persons arrested under the NDPS Act so far.
According to official figures accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a total of 2,16,123 awareness events have been conducted across Jammu and Kashmir under the campaign, involving participation from educational institutions, community groups, law enforcement agencies and government departments.
The awareness drive included padyatras, school and college programmes, village-level campaigns, youth engagement activities, seminars, rallies, sports events and cultural programmes aimed at sensitising people about the harmful effects of drug abuse.
Officials said the campaign adopted a “whole-of-government” approach involving departments of health, social welfare, police, education, information and other agencies to tackle drug addiction, rehabilitation and narcotics trafficking simultaneously.
As part of the enforcement drive, Jammu and Kashmir Police registered 614 FIRs under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and arrested 646 persons during the campaign period. Authorities said 435 drug peddlers were apprehended and 160 drug hotspots identified across the Union Territory.
The police and enforcement agencies also seized narcotic substances including 3.8 kg heroin, 32.92 kg charas and 222.31 kg ganja.
Illegal poppy cultivation spread over 21 marlas of land was also destroyed during the operation.
Officials said stringent measures were taken against properties linked to drug trafficking networks.
Thirty-seven houses associated with drug peddlers were sealed or demolished, while immovable properties worth around Rs 25.97 crore were seized or attached.
Additional properties worth Rs 3.70 crore were demolished and movable assets worth Rs 1.67 crore seized.
The administration also acted against alleged misuse of transport and pharmaceutical channels linked to narcotics activities. During the campaign, 252 driving licences and 111 vehicle registrations were cancelled. Authorities also suspended 104 drug store licences and cancelled two others.
The health department said its Addiction Treatment Facilities treated 44,602 patients during the campaign, including 44,263 OPD cases and 339 indoor admissions. A total of 148 patients were cured and discharged after treatment.
Social Welfare Department-run rehabilitation centres received 441 patients and conducted counselling sessions for 742 individuals, while police-run counselling and rehabilitation centres registered 451 patients and counselled 786 persons. Officials said 138 individuals had successfully recovered through the police-supported rehabilitation programme.
Authorities said surveillance and preventive measures were also intensified, with inspections conducted at 3,067 chemist shops and 977 schools and hospitals.
Around 2,815 CCTV cameras were installed at vulnerable locations to strengthen monitoring and enforcement efforts.
The administration reiterated its commitment to making Jammu and Kashmir drug-free through sustained enforcement, public participation and rehabilitation support—(KNO)