October 09:``Handwara Police in collaboration with Saya Shadow of Hope (NGO) organised a drug de-addiction awareness programme at Government Higher Secondary School Vilgam.

SSP Handwara Dr. G.V.Sundeep Chakravarthy-IPS was the Chief guest on the occasion. He was accompanied by SDPO Handwara Shri Fariz Hussain-JKPS and SHO Vilgam besides Members of Saya (NGO), Tehsildar Vilgam, Doctors from PHC Vilgam and Tarathpora, Teachers and Students from various Schools, BDC Chairman Vilgam, and members of Civil Society were also present on the occasion.

While speaking on the event, SSP Handwara said that the issue of drug abuse is a challenge before every state of the country. It is the duty of all stakeholders to join in creating awareness about the illegal use of drugs and the measures to be taken to eradicate this menace from the society. He also said that the increasing drug users in Handwara, especially among the youth, pose a grave threat to the society.

He further said that to eradicate the menace of drugs from the society, public cooperation is necessary and he stressed upon the participants to share all information’s related to drug abuse in the area with police, so that police can act swiftly. He further added that during the year many notorious drug peddlers who had made Handwara a drug hub and were a great threat to the peaceful environment, have been booked and lodged in jails. Recently Handwara Police had busted a Narco-terror Module and seized Heroine worth several crores from them. He also said that the drug addict persons need to be counselled as they are also the part of our society. They are the victims not the culprits and need to be treated and counselled accordingly.

On the event, the members of civil society, teachers and students also spoke and highlighted the causes and consequences of drug abuse and assured their possible support and cooperation for peaceful environment.

On the event the participants demanded for a rehabilitation centre in Handwara to which the chief guest assured all possible help. SSP Handwara said that for the betterment of youth J&K Police always remain on the forefront and different types of sports events are being organized to divert the youth of the valley towards sports activities so that they could not get involved in any kind of subversive activity which leads them to take the risk of drugs.

SSP Handwara appreciated the Volunteers of NGO for cooperating Handwara Police in organising Drug De-addiction awareness programme, which will prove to be useful in the long run.

At the end the prizes were distributed among the participants as a token of love and peace.```