Srinagar, Oct 17: Emphasising the need to channelise the energy of young people towards constructive pursuits, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar Dr GV Sundeep Chakravarthy on Saturday said playgrounds and libraries should become the preferred spaces for youth, rather than allowing them to fall prey to drug abuse and negative influences on social media.
Speaking on the sidelines of the inauguration of a cricket tournament organised under the Civic Action Programme in Srinagar, Chakravarthy said Jammu and Kashmir Police was committed to engaging young people through sports and other meaningful activities to encourage a healthier and more positive direction in life.
“The main aim of this initiative is to keep our youth busy in constructive activities and keep them away from the negative use of social media and drugs. Youth are our country’s future,” he said.
Stressing the importance of providing young people with the right environment and opportunities, the SSP said youth should be encouraged to spend their time in libraries and playgrounds, where they could develop their knowledge, skills and physical fitness.
“My personal feeling is that youth should be busy in libraries and playgrounds rather than negative energies. J&K Police is always with the youth and is committed to keeping them away from drugs,” he said.
Chakravarthy said sports could play an important role in engaging young people, fostering discipline and teamwork, and providing them with a constructive outlet for their energy. “Cricket, which enjoys immense popularity across Kashmir, offers an opportunity to bring youth together and encourage healthy competition,” he said.
The SSP said the police were working to ensure that such initiatives reached young people in different parts of the Valley, adding that youth welfare remained an important focus of the force’s public outreach efforts. “Today’s cricket tournament was not a one-off event, but part of a continuing initiative to involve young people in positive activities and strengthen police-public relations. We will continue organising more events,” he said.
He also appealed to the media to carry the message to every nook and corner of the Valley, stressing that public awareness and collective efforts were necessary to encourage young people to make constructive choices. The initiative comes amid growing concern over drug abuse and the need for sustained community-level engagement to protect young people from harmful influences.
The message from the SSP Srinagar was clear—young people need opportunities, guidance and positive spaces where they can learn, compete and grow. By encouraging greater participation in sports and learning, J&K Police aims to strengthen its engagement with the Valley’s youth and promote a constructive, drug-free future, he said.
