Sambhajinagar police rope in corporators to boost anti-drug campaign at grassroots level

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Police commissioner Pravin Pawar has begun formally involving newly elected corporators to strengthen the anti-drug campaign at the grassroots level in view of narcotics-related police action rising sharply over the past five years.Pawar said the initiative aimed to tap into local intelligence, as corporators were closely connected with residents and often the first to sense suspicious activity within their wards. "For the first time, the city police are officially partnering with corporators to fight the drug menace. Being public representatives, they stay in constant touch with citizens and are more likely to receive information about drug peddling or consumption," he said.The police commissioner said the collaboration came at a time when action under the NDPS Act had grown exponentially, reflecting a more aggressive and targeted policing strategy. "Our actions against narcotics have increased over the years. The trend clearly shows that the police system is acting with greater intensity and precision to dismantle drug networks," Pawar said.Former MP Syed Imtiaz Jaleel, long seen as the most vocal critic of the city's drug problem, welcomed the police-corporator tie-up. "My 33 corporators and I publicly commit to walking the extra mile to rid the city of drugs, a menace that has destroyed lives and triggered serious crimes, including murders," he said.Data compiled by the police highlighted the scale of the crackdown. NDPS-related operations rose from 26 in 2021 to a staggering 283 in 2025. The number of arrested accused also surged from 67 to 337 during the same period, indicating deeper penetration into organised networks.Deputy commissioner of police (crime) Ratnakar Navale said the figures pointed to a strategic transition. "This is not merely an increase in numbers but a shift to a more structured, intelligence-driven approach. The frequency of operations almost doubled every year, showing how seriously the department is pursuing drug-related offences," he said.The financial value of seized narcotics also saw a dramatic rise. While the estimated value was Rs 87.99 lakh in 2021 and dipped slightly in the following years due to changing trafficking patterns, it shot up to over Rs 2.82 crore in 2025, the highest ever in the city. "The spike in seizure value in the last two years reflects improved detection and interception of high-value consignments," Navale said.Inspector (crime) Gajanan Kalyankar said 2024-25 marked a significant breakthrough for the anti-narcotics cell. "We witnessed unprecedented growth in both the quantity and value of seized material. This was possible due to sustained surveillance, better coordination across units and timely inputs from informers," he said, adding that involving corporators would further improve ground-level intelligence. "Many drug activities operate quietly within residential pockets. Corporators' inputs will help us identify emerging hotspots and act before the situation escalates," Kalyankar said.Police officers said corporators would also participate in awareness programmes aimed at educating citizens, especially the youth, about health risks and legal consequences of drug abuse. Police commissioner Pawar said the department would continue to intensify enforcement while broadening community participation to ensure long-term, sustainable control over the drug menace.