Targeting supply chain, creating awareness key strategy against drugs: SSP Sopore

Sopore, Apr 17: Senior Superintendent of Police Sopore, Iftikhar Talib, on Friday said that police have intensified their crackdown against drug-related activities, registering 34 FIRs and arresting 40 individuals so far as part of an ongoing anti-drug campaign in the region.

Addressing the media, SSP Talib emphasised that tackling drug abuse is not the responsibility of law enforcement alone but a collective fight involving the public and all sections of society

He described drug addiction as a growing “pandemic” that requires a united and sustained response. He highlighted that the ongoing “Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir” campaign, launched under the leadership of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, aims to eliminate drug abuse through a comprehensive and multi-pronged strategy. “This initiative demands a whole-of-society approach, where not just the police but all government departments and citizens must work together to uproot this menace,” he said. SSP Talib further elaborated on the dual strategy adopted by Sopore Police. “On one hand, we are aggressively targeting drug peddlers to dismantle the supply chain. On the other, we are focusing on preventive measures by conducting awareness campaigns in schools, colleges, and villages,” he added. He stressed that awareness and education are crucial in preventing youth from falling prey to substance abuse, while strict enforcement actions will continue against those involved in drug trafficking. Reiterating his appeal to the public, SSP Sopore urged citizens to cooperate with law enforcement agencies by sharing information and supporting initiatives aimed at creating a drug-free society.