Udupi: Udupi district has alarmingly climbed to third place in Karnataka for drug-related cases, following Bengaluru and Mangaluru. This growing concern was highlighted by District Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar, who chaired a key meeting on forming anti-drug and awareness committees in educational institutions.
The meeting, held at Bannanje Narayanaguru Auditorium, was organised by the Udupi District Police Department with a focused agenda—tackling rising drug use among students, especially in colleges.
“Udupi, known for its educational excellence and spiritual heritage, is now witnessing a disturbing surge in drug cases, many involving college students,” SP Hariram Shankar said. “This is not just a policing issue—it’s a societal concern.”
To curb this trend, the police are initiating the formation of anti-drug committees in schools and colleges. These committees will work closely with the police to monitor, prevent, and raise awareness. “When students realize their institutions are actively engaged with law enforcement, a natural deterrence sets in,” he added.
He emphasized the need for collective action involving principals, faculty, parents, and law enforcement. The goal is to build a strong awareness network that educates students and curbs drug-related temptations early.
The meeting was attended by Additional SP Sudhakar Naik, DySP D.T. Prabhu, ASP of Karkala Dr. Harsha Priyamvada, and College Principals’ Association President Varghese—who pledged their support to the initiative.