Hoshiarpur (Punjab), Jan 7 (PTI) In a move aimed at combating the drug menace, the Hoshiarpur police and civil administration jointly launched a mission called 'Hoshiyar' (alert) on Tuesday.

The initiative seeks to eliminate drugs from the district through collective efforts involving panchayats and villagers, said an official statement.

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The launch event saw the participation of over 700 representatives from around 300 panchayats of the district.

Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Surendra Lamba assured the attendees that all drug-related information shared with authorities would be kept confidential, and immediate action would be taken against offenders.

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The SSP urged residents to provide drug-related information through dedicated helplines.

He highlighted that the initiative is a directive from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav to foster direct public engagement in tackling drug-related issues.

Speaking on the occasion, Member of Parliament Raj Kumar Chabbewal stressed the proactive role of panchayats in curbing drug abuse and promoting sports among the youth.

He emphasized vigilance in breaking the drug supply chain while ensuring rehabilitation support for addicts.

MLA Bram Shanker Jimpa also stressed that the panchayats could contribute a lot to brush aside the menace of drugs.

He also said that those indulged in the practice of drug peddling or smuggling should not be given any sort of help in villages, which would be a deterrent effect for others too.

Deputy Commissioner Mittal highlighted the availability of a state-of-the-art rehabilitation center in Hoshiarpur to assist addicts.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)