Warangal CP Ambar Kishor Jha addresses engineering students during an awareness program on drug abuse.
In an urgent response to the escalating crisis of drug abuse among the youth in the Warangal region, the Warangal Police Commissioner, Ambar Kishor Jha, has announced the formation of a specialized 15-member police team. This initiative targets the growing prevalence of ganja consumption across the districts of Hanamkonda, Warangal, and Jangaon. Notably, this is the first team of its kind established in a Tier-II city within Telangana.
Commissioner Jha emphasized the critical need for this dedicated team as Warangal has increasingly become a hub for drug peddlers. These individuals illicitly acquire ganja from the adjacent state of Andhra Pradesh and transport it across Telangana and into Maharashtra, utilizing Warangal as a key transit point. The cannabis is primarily sourced from the forest regions along the Andhra Odisha Border, as well as from the Rampachodaram and Sileru forest areas, with smuggling routes that traverse through Cherla, Kothagudem, Eturnagaram, and Mulugu.
According to police statements, drug peddlers typically purchase large quantities of ganja, which they pack into specialized bags weighing between two and three kilograms. Many resort to using safehouses within the Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation limits to repackage the drug into smaller, more easily sold quantities. This dedicated team will focus particularly on students and young adults in local colleges, both private and government-run, including deemed universities.
The rise of synthetic drug usage in Warangal has prompted the team’s formation, which is led by an Inspector and includes three Sub-Inspectors. Their mandate is to maintain stringent surveillance on users and identify those at risk. The police have already reported the seizure of small amounts of ganja as part of their initial efforts.
In addition to enforcement activities, the police are launching awareness initiatives in educational institutions, complemented by cultural programs aimed at educating the public about the dangers of drug abuse. A dedicated mobile hotline, 87125 84473, has also been established for the reporting of illegal drug activities.
Furthermore, the Warangal Police, in collaboration with the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital and a local non-profit organization, has been operating a comprehensive drug detoxification and rehabilitation program since December 2021. Over 300 students have registered for counseling services, with some undergoing treatment at dedicated de-addiction facilities.
Commissioner Jha cautioned the youth, stating, “Vigilance is crucial; succumbing to drugs for fleeting pleasure can derail their ambitions and aspirations.” Since the beginning of the year, law enforcement has seized approximately 424 kilograms of ganja across 35 cases, leading to the apprehension of 80 drug peddlers within the Warangal Police Commissionerate.
