Sopore: Senior Superintendent of Police Sopore, Iftikhar Talib, on Friday termed drug abuse a “pandemic” and said the fight against narcotics cannot be won through enforcement alone, urging people to actively participate in efforts to curb the menace.
Speaking to a news agency, SSP Talib said public cooperation is essential to address the growing issue of drug abuse in Sopore. “Unless the public participates, the issue of drugs will not end,” he said, appealing to families to educate their children about the dangers of narcotics.
He said the ongoing ‘Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir’ campaign, launched by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, requires a collective approach involving all sections of society. “This campaign is not only for the police, but all government departments and sections of society have to come together to end this epidemic,” he said.
The SSP outlined a two-pronged strategy focusing on enforcement and awareness. He said police are targeting drug peddlers to break the supply chain while simultaneously conducting large-scale awareness drives in schools, villages, and neighborhoods.
“We are catching drug peddlers and trying to dismantle the supply network. Alongside that, we have started awareness campaigns at a mass level,” he said, adding that religious leaders, political representatives, and civil society members have also been engaged in the initiative.
Highlighting recent action, SSP Talib said that 34 FIRs have been registered in Sopore so far this year, with around 40 persons arrested in connection with drug-related cases. He added that a significant quantity of narcotics has been seized during the operations.
The police have also taken administrative measures, including cancellation of registration of about 20 vehicles used in drug-related activities and revocation of driving licenses of 15 individuals.
He said enforcement efforts will continue in the coming days under the broader drug-free Jammu and Kashmir campaign. “We are also arresting notorious drug peddlers, and this action will continue,” he added.
SSP Talib reiterated that addressing drug abuse solely through policing would be difficult and emphasized the need for sustained public participation to effectively tackle the issue. [KNT]
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