Special teams, more manpower for fair polls: SSP Jammu

Jammu, Apr 07: In an endeavour to uphold the sanctity of the forthcoming LokSabha elections, SSP Jammu, Vinod Kumar, announced the formation of specialized teams and bolstered manpower at various checkpoints during a press briefing at DPL Jammu.
“We are ensuring utmost transparency and security for the LokSabha elections by deploying special teams and additional personnel at critical checkpoints,” affirmed SSP Kumar, underscoring the commitment to fair electoral processes.
Detailing the crackdown on narcotics, Kumar stated, “We have identified 14 areas as drug hotspots in the city and conducted 85 raids, bolstering manpower to curb drug peddling.”
Addressing the multifaceted strategy against drug abuse, Kumar stated, “Our approach includes raising public awareness and rehabilitating affected youth, treating them as victims of addiction.”
The SSP also said that Jammu and Kashmir Police is taking the stringent possible action against drug peddlers to curb the drug menace.
These locations, he said, were also brought under increased surveillance of district special branch officials.
Highlighting police actions against drug networks, Kumar revealed, “We have dismantled the networks of 27 cases, seizing properties of notorious peddlers, with on-going efforts to dismantle others.”
Regarding security measures, Kumar emphasized, “Surveillance on former Over Ground Workers is maintained to prevent their involvement in narco-terrorism, ensuring continued vigilance.”
He said that 13 notorious drug peddlers were booked under the stringent Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT NDPS) Act in the past three months compared to a total of 24 last year.
“We have launched a two type strategy to tackle drug menace with primary focus to create awareness among people and secondly rehabilitation of drug addicted youth who are treated as victims,” the SSP said.
Police has recently opened a state-of-the-art drug rehabilitation centre which is equipped with all facilities and a qualified staff, he added.
Seeking active support of people in eradicating the drug menace, he said even if any police personnel was found involved in drug peddling, strict action will be taken against such persons as per the prevalent laws.
The SSP said the police are also keeping surveillance on former Over Ground Workers of terrorists to ensure that they are not recycled and get involved in narco-terrorism.