Srinagar, Jan 31, KDC: In a first such outreach initiative, the Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday stepped beyond routine law-enforcement methods and directly addressed a community gathering from the Mosque pulpit in Gurez Valley. The local Station House Officer (SHO) issued a strong and emotional appeal against narcotics, online gambling and the misuse of social media, three threats he said were “eating away the valley like termites”.
Addressing religious scholars, elders and youth at a Friday congregation, the SHO, in a rare move for the force, presented himself not just as a police officer but as a member and guardian of the community. “Respected religious scholars, elders, and my dear young brothers. Peace be upon you,” he began, invoking faith and shared identity. “Almighty Allah has created man as the ‘noblest of all creatures’ and blessed us with the great gifts of intellect and awareness. But today, the youth of our Gurez Valley are surrounded by three major enemies. I stand here today not just as a police officer, but as a son of this soil and as your protector.”
Calling Gurez “this valley which was once known as the land of saints”, the SHO warned that it was now being hollowed out by “three great evils, Drugs (Narcotics), Online Gambling, and the misuse of Social Media”. He cautioned the youth that “the hands that were meant to hold pens are now trapped in the addiction of drugs”, quoting a Quranic warning, “Do not throw yourselves into destruction.”
While noting that the presence of hard narcotics such as charas, brown sugar and heroin in Gurez remains “negligible”, the officer said “a series of complaints has started coming in recently”, prompting the police to act early. “Because of this, as your SHO, and recognising my responsibility, I had to come before you, this honourable and aware public,” he said.
Repeating that the Jammu and Kashmir Police has “declared a war against drugs”, the SHO issued a firm warning. “We will not forgive anyone in this matter.” At the same time, he stressed that law enforcement alone cannot cure addiction. “The police can only catch the criminal. Curing the disease of addiction requires the care and responsibility of the family,” he said, urging residents to report drug-related information and assuring them that “the name of the informant will be kept strictly confidential”.
He listed warning signs parents should watch for, including isolation, red eyes, long hours of sleep, staying locked in rooms or remaining out late at night. Ignoring these signs, he warned, “can prove very dangerous for you and your children in the future”, reported news agency Kashmir Dot Com.
Turning to online gambling, the SHO said a “vast number of boys in Gurez” were involved in pay-to-play games and betting apps. “This is not a game. It is the devil’s gambling,” he said, warning that these platforms were ruining families mentally and financially. He said FIRs have already been registered in other states against several online gamers from Gurez, and their bank accounts have been frozen. “Legally, any money transferred to an account for these games is treated as money laundering or cyber crime,” he said.
The officer revealed that he recently summoned “10 to 12 boys” to the police station, including a family in which “four brothers were playing these games”. All of them now face FIRs in Maharashtra. He added that many gamers use VPNs, which he said is a legal offence, and warned that more names were under investigation.
In an unusual advisory, the SHO urged those already involved to come forward before legal action begins. “If you have received money from these apps, go to the bank immediately, inform the manager in writing, and visit the District Police Cyber Station to clarify the situation. Do not use or transfer money that has arrived in your accounts,” he said.
Expressing concern over social media misuse, the officer said “the honour of our daughters is being toyed with online”, warning that innocent girls befriending strangers were putting both “their worldly lives and the hereafter” at risk. He also spoke of the weakening of family ties, noting that “every member of the household remains glued to their phones even during meals”.
“The mobile screen is tearing down the walls of your privacy,” he warned, urging parents to talk to their children, check their phones and keep an eye on their company. He appealed to Imams to speak about these “social evils in every Friday sermon so the new generation remains aware”.
The SHO called for the formation of neighbourhood-level committees of elders to keep watch on suspicious activity, assuring residents that “the doors of the Gurez Police Station are open to every person who wants to keep their area pure”. His address ended with a collective appeal. “Come, let us all pledge that we will eradicate drugs, banish gambling, and protect the modesty of our daughters.”
The outreach comes amid an intensified and data-backed anti-narcotics drive by the Jammu and Kashmir Police across the Valley. According to official figures, police registered around 1,000 drug-related cases in 2025, arresting nearly 1,400 individuals involved in narcotics trafficking and peddling. To break organised networks, about 170 habitual offenders were placed under preventive detention under the PIT-NDPS Act.
In a major financial crackdown, properties worth over Rs 70 crore, covering more than 120 movable and immovable assets, were attached, while around 40 properties were permanently seized under relevant legal provisions.
A senior police officer associated with the year-long campaign said the strategy is aimed at cutting off the money that fuels the drug trade and sending a strong warning.
“Strong investigations have resulted in convictions in several serious cases, with courts awarding sentences of up to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment along with fines running into lakhs of rupees,” the officer said. He added that police are focusing on fast trials through an effective court-follow-up system. “More than 90 per cent disposal has been achieved through quality investigation and court decisions.”
The sustained crackdown, combining preventive detention, property attachment, strong prosecution and now direct community outreach, reflects what officials describe as the firm resolve of the Jammu and Kashmir Police to eliminate the drug menace and protect the youth of Kashmir.
The Gurez address marks the first time the J&K Police have formally used a community pulpit in this manner, signalling a shift towards faith-based and grassroots outreach alongside enforcement. (KDC)
