The Keralam government is set to launch a comprehensive statewide anti-narcotics campaign titled "Operation Toofan: The Narco Hunt", which is aimed at dismantling drug syndicates and halting the spread of illicit substances. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala announced the initiative on Saturday following his first high-level meeting with senior police officers at the Police Headquarters.
Scheduled to commence on June 1 to coincide with schools reopening after the summer holidays, the special drive will focus heavily on eliminating drug distribution networks near educational institutions. Chennithala issued a stark warning against the sale of tobacco and narcotic substances around schools, identifying synthetic drugs as an escalating threat to the state. He emphasised that anyone linked to narcotics operations would be placed under strict police surveillance. The campaign intends to target synthetic drug supply chains and repeat offenders by deploying intelligence-led, data-driven enforcement measures, alongside cross-border cooperation with police forces in neighbouring states. Appealing to the public and the media for support, the minister made it clear that lawbreakers challenging the system would face zero tolerance.
In tandem with the anti-drug offensive, Chennithala unveiled a series of reforms designed to overhaul police operations and improve community relations across Keralam. All 484 police stations in the state are to be transformed into people-friendly public service centres. Under the new guidelines, visitors must be received courteously, and systems will be established to ensure that grievances are handled fairly and sensitively.
The minister also ordered immediate steps to improve cleanliness at police facilities, including taking action under the Police Act to clear away abandoned and long-pending seized vehicles that clutter station grounds. Further changes will target the conduct and efficiency of police personnel during public interactions.
Additionally, the state plans to enforce rigorous measures against crimes targeting women and children, whilst strengthening the existing Janamaithri policing scheme. Technology will be more heavily utilised to combat cybercrime and reduce road accidents, and the police training syllabus is slated for a revision as part of a broader modernisation strategy. To oversee structural changes, a five-member committee has been appointed to review officer deployment at the station level — specifically regarding Sub-Inspectors, Circle Inspectors, and Deputy Superintendents of Police — with further reforms to follow the panel’s recommendations.
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