A district-level meeting of the Narcotics Coordination Committee (NCORD) was held under the chairmanship of Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Mandi, Dr. Madan Kumar, to review ongoing efforts against drug trafficking and substance abuse.
Chairing the meeting, the ADM stated that strict and continuous action is being taken against individuals involved in the illegal drug trade. He directed the Police and Education Departments to maintain special surveillance on shops located near educational institutions. Any unusual increase in the sale or consumption of suspicious items must be immediately reported to the district administration.
The meeting also discussed a recent case reported in Hamirpur where charas was allegedly mixed in toffees and sold. Officials were instructed to closely monitor such activities and ensure timely intelligence sharing. With new academic sessions underway in higher educational institutions, authorities were directed to spread awareness among newly admitted students about the harmful effects of drugs and ensure regular monitoring.
Review of NDPS Act Cases
Additional Superintendent of Police Abhimanyu Verma presented a detailed review of cases registered under the NDPS Act. Between January 1 and March 31, a total of 81 cases were registered, leading to the arrest of 116 accused, including 110 men and 6 women.
The registered cases included 3 related to opium husk, 28 involving heroin, 46 related to charas, and 4 cases concerning banned pharmaceutical drugs.
He informed that 33.127 grams of heroin were seized in February and 177.165 grams in March. Charas seizures stood at 3.803 kilograms in February and 10.734 kilograms in March, while 138.165 kilograms of poppy husk were recovered in January.
During the financial year 2025–26, 21 financial investigation cases under the NDPS Act were registered, while 34 cases are currently pending in courts. Illegal properties of accused persons have been attached in three cases, with attachment proceedings ongoing in two more. Additionally, 18 cases were referred to the Advisory Board through Police Headquarters, and five new cases have been forwarded in 2026, with detention orders issued in four cases.
Awareness on Drug Addiction Symptoms
The Additional SP stressed that parents and teachers must remain alert to early warning signs of drug addiction among students. Indicators may include excessive use of strong perfumes, red eyes, avoiding eye contact, isolation, spending long periods in bathrooms, sudden weight loss, irregular behaviour, excessive sleep, poor hygiene, burn marks on fingers, and frequent absence from school.
Year-Long Anti-Drug Awareness Campaign
Dr. Pavnesh briefed the committee about a proposed year-long anti-drug awareness campaign for the upcoming financial year. The campaign will focus more on prevention and counselling rather than treatment.
Under the initiative, monthly themes will be introduced, and health professionals will interact with students to educate them about the harmful effects of substance abuse. Regular awareness activities will be conducted in schools, high-risk panchayat areas, and at the community level to ensure continuous counselling and awareness among youth.
