Solan police launch awareness drive against drug abuse

In a bid to educate the youth about the ill-effects of drug abuse and adoption of preventive measures to avert cyber frauds, the Solan police through its Rustom campaign are creating awareness among students. A group of NCC students at Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, was educated about the two key issues by a team of Solan police, informed SP Solan Gaurav Singh, who has kick-started this campaign in various educational institutes of the district.

“The Solan police is committed to establishing a drug -free society and preventing crimes like cyber frauds which are growing day by day. The Rustom campaign, besides educating the youth about the two topics, also ensures their positive participation in the society,” stated the SP.

Solan district figures among the 272 districts across India identified as severely affected by drug abuse. Under the Centre’s Nasha Mukt Bharat campaign, initiated in 2020-21, efforts are underway to tackle the drug menace.

In addition to raising awareness among youth, the Solan police are actively targeting inter-state drug networks, which exploit the district’s proximity to state borders and its numerous educational institutions to expand their illicit trade. The police was also curtailing the supply of key drugs like heroin to curb drug abuse with 57 key inter-state networks of drug supply having been dismantled in the last over a year.

Educational institutions are a key focus of the campaign. Police teams, in collaboration with university and college administrations, are conducting interactive awareness sessions with the students specially targeting hostels. As drug dealers increasingly target students, the authorities have strengthened vigil in private universities. The crackdown comes after emergence of multiple cases where students were found not only consuming heroin but also selling it to sustain their addiction. Several students have been booked for drug peddling in recent months.