Pulwama/Shopian: Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat on Friday said the youth who were misguided or had gone astray will be given concessions if they show genuine ‘change of heart’.
Addressing public darbars in south Kashmir, DGP Prabhat, according to the news agency KNO, reiterated the commitment of the J&K Police to guide “misguided” youth back to the right path.
“Youth who were on the wrong track, who were misguided are obviously facing problems… if they have changed, we will definitely give them concessions,” he said.
Encouraging people to cooperate with law enforcement agencies, the DGP emphasized the importance of witness protection and intelligence sharing. “Provide us with information, and we will keep it confidential. There is no such village or mohalla where a person doesn’t know what his neighbor is growing in his field or whether he is involved in drug peddling. We must control drug abuse; providing information is a social responsibility,” he said.
DGP Prabhat also stressed the role of parents in shaping their children’s future, cautioning against excessive exposure to mobile phones.
“Parents should provide proper education and guidance to their children. When children don’t spend time with their parents, they are more susceptible to negative societal influences. Mobile phones are powerful tools, but they can also lead to negative consequences,” he warned.
Reaffirming the police’s commitment to fighting drug abuse and crime, the DGP called for public support. “The police will continue its battle against drugs and crime, and we hope people will stand with us in this fight,” he said.
Highlighting the concerns of fruit growers, the DGP assured that steps will be taken to ensure that apple-laden trucks reach Azadpur Mandi in Delhi on time. “We will find a way out to address this issue effectively,” he added, acknowledging the significance of the horticulture sector in the region.
Referring to allegations of a police officer ill-treating a woman relative of a deceased (Gujjar) youth in Qazigund, the DGP informed that an inquiry committee has been constituted and asked to submit its report within 10 days.
Urging the public to refrain from communalizing the issue, he said, “I request people not to turn this into a tribal versus non-tribal matter.”
During his visit to Rajpora, DGP Prabhat assured the locals that their concerns would be addressed. He also announced that books would be distributed in the next civic action programme to help youth prepare for competitive exams.
The DGP was accompanied by V K Birdi, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Javaid Iqbal Matoo, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Kashmir Range (SKR), and Anayat Ali Chowdhary, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shopian.
He visited the remote village of Keller as part of the ongoing Thana Diwas Programme organized by Police Station Keller.
Keller, located in a remote area of Shopian, is primarily inhabited by the Gujjar, Bakarwal, and Chopan communities. The event witnessed overwhelming participation from the locals.
During the interaction, community members raised several important concerns, including the demand for the engagement of Special Police Officers (SPOs) from their area, along with various civil administration issues affecting their daily lives.
The DGP assured the community that their grievances would be addressed without delay. (KNO)
