DC Changthang chairs inaugural NCORD meeting, calls for unified enforcement against drug abuse

Police launches Drug and Cyber Crime helpline

NYOMA: Changthang on Wednesday stepped up its campaign against substance abuse with the district administration convening the first District-Level National Narcotics Coordination (NCORD) Committee meeting and the district police announcing a dedicated Drugs and Cyber Crime Counselling Helpline, aimed at strengthening prevention, enforcement and community support mechanisms.

Chairing the meeting at the Conference Hall in Nyoma, Deputy Commissioner Nitish Rajora, IAS, called for a coordinated approach involving civil administration, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to reinforce surveillance, intensify awareness campaigns and strengthen enforcement against drug abuse across the district.

The meeting was attended by Senior Superintendent of Police, Changthang, Zaheer Abbas Jafri, JKPS, along with representatives from the Civil Administration, Health, Education, Police, Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Social Welfare, Forest, Agriculture, Excise, Drug Control and other departments.

Reviewing the district’s existing anti-drug framework, the committee examined measures to improve inter-departmental coordination, expand awareness programmes, strengthen surveillance and ensure effective implementation of preventive and enforcement initiatives under the NCORD framework.

Emphasising the need for sustained institutional collaboration, the Deputy Commissioner said coordinated action by all stakeholder departments would be essential to addressing substance abuse and achieving the objective of a drug-free Changthang. Participating departments reaffirmed their commitment to work collectively under the NCORD mechanism to enhance the effectiveness of anti-drug initiatives across the district.

In a parallel initiative, the District Police Changthang announced the establishment of a Drugs and Cyber Crime Counselling Helpline to provide guidance, counselling and assistance to individuals affected by substance abuse, addiction and cyber-related offences.

Announcing the initiative, Senior Superintendent of Police Zaheer Abbas Jafri said residents can confidentially seek counselling, assistance or share information related to drug abuse and cybercrime by contacting the dedicated helpline at 9541927085.

According to the police, the helpline is intended to support de-addiction efforts, promote cyber awareness and encourage timely reporting of cyber fraud and other online offences. The initiative forms part of the district police’s broader efforts to build a drug-free Changthang while fostering a safer digital environment for residents.

The Superintendent of Police appealed to parents, teachers, youth and community leaders to actively support the initiative and make effective use of the helpline whenever assistance or counselling is required.