Kulgam, April 25: Stepping up efforts to curb misuse of pharmaceutical drugs, the Drug Control Authority Kulgam launched an intensified enforcement drive under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, resulting in the suspension of licences of 11 medical shops across the district.

An official told that teams carried out coordinated inspections in multiple areas including Kulgam town, Pahloo, Devsar, D.K. Marg, Qazigund, Frisal, Kadder, Behibagh and Tengjan focusing on adherence to norms governing the sale of scheduled medicines.

During the operation, several outlets were found violating mandatory regulations, prompting authorities to issue show-cause notices, while some premises were sealed on the spot.

Officials said the action was aimed at tightening control over unauthorized sale of prescription drugs and ensuring accountability among chemists. The drive was conducted in close coordination with local police units to strengthen monitoring mechanisms and prevent illegal circulation of controlled substances.

Alongside enforcement, the department also conducted awareness sessions for chemists, emphasizing strict maintenance of sale records and the need to dispense medicines only against valid prescriptions issued by registered practitioners.

In a related development, the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Kulgam recently imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on a medical shop for failing to maintain proper sale records of scheduled drugs, reinforcing the administration’s zero-tolerance approach towards violations.