Srinagar, Oct 12: Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat on Monday called for a united societal response to the growing challenge of drug abuse, asserting that protecting children and young people from narcotics was a collective responsibility that extended far beyond the police force.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function at Police Public School here, the DGP said the campaign against drugs was gaining momentum across Jammu and Kashmir under the leadership of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. He said the future of the country depended on safeguarding its younger generation from substance abuse.
“These small children are the future of our country,” Prabhat said, underlining the need for society to come together to protect young people from the menace.
Referring to recent enforcement action against drug trafficking in Srinagar, the J&K Police chief said several arrests had been made as part of the crackdown. He emphasised that tackling the problem required a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, with active participation from citizens.
“It is our duty that we participate in this fight and say no to drugs,” he said, urging people to join the campaign against narcotics.
The DGP’s appeal comes as Jammu & Kashmir Police intensifies efforts to raise awareness about drug abuse alongside enforcement action against traffickers. The emphasis on community participation places families, educational institutions and local communities at the centre of efforts to prevent substance abuse and protect vulnerable youth.
As part of the awareness drive, the DGP flagged off a motorcycle rally from Police Public School, Bemina, Srinagar, towards Ekta Nagar in Gujarat for the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas parade scheduled for October 31.
The contingent comprises 10 bikers from Jammu and Kashmir Police and five from Ladakh Police. Awareness programmes on the harmful effects of drug abuse are planned along the route, with a focus on sensitising young people and promoting the message of a drug-free society.
The initiative combines public outreach with the broader campaign against narcotics, seeking to carry the message beyond police establishments and into communities. The DGP’s message was clear– enforcement against traffickers must go hand in hand with public awareness, prevention and collective responsibility if Jammu and Kashmir is to protect its next generation from the consequences of drug abuse.
