In a decisive push against the rising menace of drug abuse, Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Shrikant Suse, October 6 chaired the district-level Narco Coordination (NCORD) committee meeting, directing officials to intensify awareness campaigns, crackdown on hotspots, and strengthen enforcement measures across the district.
The meeting, attended by SSP Kupwara Ghulam Jeelani, ADC Gulzar Ahmad, ACR, CMO, CEO, DFO, and other officers — with SSP Handwara, SDM Lolab, and all Tehsildars joining virtually — reviewed the progress of ongoing anti-narcotics initiatives.
Suse stressed the need for targeted awareness programmes, particularly for vulnerable groups including youth, transport workers, and street vendors.
He directed tehsil-level teams to identify hotspots swiftly, destroy illegal bhung and poppy cultivation, and initiate legal action against offenders.
The DC also emphasized tighter regulation of medical shops, noting that CCTV cameras have been installed district-wide and 95% of outlets have adopted computerized billing.
The Assistant Drug Controller was instructed to ensure 100% compliance to break illegal supply chains.
Underscoring the importance of community involvement, Suse called on schools to hold monthly Parent-Teacher Meetings (PTMs) dedicated to drug abuse prevention, while mandating strict enforcement of the ban on tobacco sales within 100 meters of educational institutions.
He further urged grassroots-level participation through the “Nasha Mukt Panchayat” initiative, aimed at fostering healthy competition among village panchayats to make Kupwara a drug-free district.
