Khanna, October 9, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Deputy Inspector General of Police, Ludhiana Range, Sandeep Goel on Friday launched Operation KAWACH at Gulzar Group of Institutions in Khanna, introducing a student-centric preventive policing initiative aimed at curbing drug-related risks through peer support, anonymous reporting and timely intervention.
Conceived by Khanna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dr Darpan Ahluwalia, the initiative seeks to shift the focus from reactive enforcement to early identification of vulnerabilities and the creation of a protective support network around young people.
Addressing students and other participants, DIG Sandeep Goel said illicit drug networks could expand through peer circles, where one person’s substance use may expose others to similar risks and potentially contribute to wider supply networks.
“Operation KAWACH seeks to reverse this network effect. Instead of allowing peer groups to become a pathway into substance abuse, KAWACH empowers them to act as a protective shield where concerns are identified early and help is accessible long before vulnerability turns into addiction or crime,” Goel said.
Explaining the initiative, SSP Dr Darpan Ahluwalia said Operation KAWACH rests on three interconnected pillars: CONNECT, DETECT and PROTECT.
Under the CONNECT pillar, students will be encouraged to form peer groups that can develop into support networks. These groups will be linked with designated civil and police mentors to establish a trusted channel between students and the administration. The objective is to ensure that students facing difficulties have access to guidance and do not feel compelled to deal with their problems alone.
The DETECT pillar introduces distinctive ‘KAWACH QR Codes’ across educational institutions to facilitate confidential, anonymous reporting. Students can scan the codes and choose from three options: ‘I need help’ for personal difficulties; ‘I am worried about someone’ to raise concerns about a friend or fellow student; and ‘I want to report something’ to share information about suspected drug activity, harassment, unsafe surroundings or other concerns.
The third pillar, PROTECT, focuses on ensuring timely support and appropriate intervention. Information received through the KAWACH mechanism will be channelled to designated civil and police mentors for a suitable response.
“A student may hesitate to walk into a police station, but they will readily scan a QR code to seek help or flag an issue anonymously. The core objective of Operation KAWACH is simple: before drugs can reach a student, KAWACH must reach them first,” Dr Ahluwalia said.
The launch was attended by Khanna Superintendent of Police (Headquarters) Harpinder Kaur Gill, Superintendent of Police (Investigation) Rakesh Kumar Yadav, representatives of the college management, faculty members and students. District and three Halqa coordinators of the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign were also present.
Through its emphasis on peer-led support, confidential reporting and early intervention, Operation KAWACH aims to strengthen preventive efforts against substance abuse and provide students with accessible channels to raise concerns and seek assistance.
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