Police lead drug awareness drive with massive youth participation

In a major push against drug abuse, the Commissionerate Police organised a series of awareness campaigns across the city, drawing over 1,000 participants. Led by Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma, the initiatives spanned four subdivisions — Central, North, Model Town and West — engaging students, volunteers and the public in creative and impactful ways.

In subdivision Central, an anti-drug awareness rally took place across key city locations, led by the ACP-Central with support from the ADCP, Traffic, and the ACP, PBI, NDPS. More than 200 persons participated, marching through prominent areas like Sai Dass School, Patel Chowk, Jyoti Chowk and Pudda Ground. Another leg of the rally covered Rama Mandi Chowk, GND University and Ladhewali. Participants were awarded certificates of appreciation for their efforts in spreading awareness.

At PPR Mall in subdivision North, a flash mob captivated hundreds of onlookers with a powerful anti-drug message. Under the leadership of the ACP, North, along with ADCP-I and ACP, Special Cell, the high-energy performance used dance and music to convey the dangers of substance abuse, leaving a lasting impact on the audience.

The campaign took an artistic turn in subdivision Model Town with a wall painting competition held at Police Lines. Eight teams from various colleges created thought-provoking murals under the guidance of the ACP, Model Town, ADCP, Operations, and ACP, Cyber Crime.

DAV Institute of Engineering and Technology (DAVIET) won the first place and received Rs 10,000, followed by Layallpur Khalsa College with Rs 7,500 and Kanya Maha Vidyalaya (KMV) College securing the third place with Rs 5,000. All other teams were given Rs 1,000 as a token of appreciation.

In subdivision West, a tug-of-war at Sports College, Kapurthala Road, saw 15 teams competing for top honours. Led by the ACP, West, with support from the ADCP-II and the ACP Special Branch, the event encouraged teamwork while reinforcing the anti-drug message. Ward No. 36 emerged victorious with a cash prize of Rs 15,000, while Ward No. 55 and Ward No. 42 secured second and third place, earning Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000.

Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma emphasised that more such initiatives would follow to strengthen awareness, particularly among the city’s youth. "The large-scale participation reflected a growing commitment to tackling drug abuse, with the events underscoring the collective effort needed to build a drug-free Jalandhar", he added.