Chandigarh, September 23, 2026:Today, Anti-Drug Helpline Numbers were formally launched by the Governor of Punjab and Administrator, UT Chandigarh, Sh. Gulab Chand Kataria, at the UT Secretariat, Sector 9, Chandigarh. Additional Chief Secretary to the Governor of Punjab, Shri Vivek Pratap Singh; Home Secretary, U.T. Chandigarh, Shri Mandip Singh Brar; Dr. Sagar Preet Hooda, IPS, Director General of Police, UT Chandigarh; Finance Secretary, Shri Diprava Lakra; Shri Swapnil M. Naik, Secretary Personnel & Establishment; Shri Harpreet Singh Sudan, Special Commissioner Municipal Corporation Chandigarh; Ms. Kanwardeep Kaur, IPS, SSP/UT, Chandigarh; Sh. Sumer Partap Singh, IPS, Senior Superintendent of Police (Security & Traffic); Sh. Rajesh Sharma, SSP/Operation; Sh. Vinit Kumar, SP/Hqrs, Sh. Vijay Kumar, IPS, SP/City Chandigarh were present on the occasion.
The Administrator, UT Chandigarh, said that public participation is the most important part of the campaign and urged people to come forward, report cases of drug peddling and drug abuse, and seek help through the dedicated helplines. He said the identity and contact details of callers or complainants will be kept strictly confidential and will not be recorded in the records. He further said that these complaints will be handled by senior officials to ensure that prompt action is taken. The helpline numbers are 9282040100 (Anti-Drug Helpline, Chandigarh - Mobile), 0172-2677037 (Anti-Drug Helpline, Chandigarh - Landline), and 1933 (MANAS Helpline).
He said that the next important step of this Drug-Free campaign will be to conduct a door-to-door survey of households across Chandigarh to identify individuals and families who may need support in dealing with drug-related issues and facilitate their access to appropriate counseling, treatment and rehabilitation services. He also said the Health Department is being instructed to monitor the sale of medicines that may contain substances liable to misuse, and strict action will be taken against outlets found supplying such medicines without a valid prescription issued by a registered medical practitioner. He further said the campaign will also be expanded in coordination with neighbouring States, as addressing drug abuse requires concerted efforts beyond administrative boundaries.
Sh. Sagar Preet Hooda, IPS, DGP-UT stated that 130 FIRs have been registered so far and 133 persons have been arrested, while approximately 359 persons have also been detained during the ongoing special drive. He further stated that hotspots have been identified and cordoned off, with suspects allegedly involved in drug trafficking being taken into custody for appropriate action. He said that the special campaign has received coordinated support from the Health Department, Social Welfare Department, Chandigarh Police and various other agencies of the Chandigarh Administration. He said that the newly launched Anti-Drug Helpline will provide citizens with a dedicated platform to share information regarding drug trafficking and other drug-related activities. The information received through the helpline will be categorized into four categories for appropriate and timely action.
He also said that immediate and credible information will be acted upon promptly through a special team under the supervision of the SSP, while routine complaints and other information will be forwarded to the Anti-Narcotic Task Force for further necessary action.
The DGP emphasized that the helpline is not merely a telephone number but a platform reflecting the shared commitment of Chandigarh Police and citizens in the fight against drugs. He urged citizens to actively participate by sharing credible information with the authorities.
The helpline has been launched as part of the ongoing efforts of the Chandigarh Administration and Chandigarh Police to strengthen the fight against drug abuse and provide an accessible platform for citizens to share information, seek assistance and report drug-related concerns.