In Hubballi–Dharwad, police have brought drug users and peddlers into public view, making them stand in a line and clearly stating that soft treatment for them in the twin cities is over.
Police Commissioner N. Shashi Kumar said such anti‑social elements will no longer get any “VIP treatment” and that tougher action will be taken against both drug suppliers and drug users.
In the latest drive, city police picked up suspected peddlers and users from different police station limits, brought them to one place, and held a formal parade under the Commissionerate.
Videos and photos from the spot show the accused standing in rows before officers while their details are checked, their cases are reviewed, and a strong public warning is read out.
Officials say this is part of a wider, ongoing drive to break the drug network that targets college students, young workers and vulnerable groups in Hubballi–Dharwad.
In earlier special drives, hundreds of people were sent for medical tests for drug use, and many tested positive, which pushed the department to step up its action.
Commissioner Shashi Kumar told the group that anyone linked to drugs – from small‑time peddlers to repeat users – will now face strict legal punishment.
He has instructed officers to keep away from rowdy elements, maintain updated records of suspects, and tighten action under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
The Commissionerate has also opened ways for the public to share information, asking citizens to report drug hotspots, suspicious activity and drug dealing happening through social media.
Police say help from residents, parents and college authorities is essential if the city wants to cut both the supply and demand for narcotics.
This parade follows a series of crackdowns this year on rowdy‑sheeters, gangs and those who glorify crime on social media in Hubballi–Dharwad.
Recent operations have included early‑morning raids on the houses of hundreds of rowdies, sending more than a hundred repeat offenders out of city limits, and closely watching people who show off weapons and crime in reels.
According to police, such open actions are meant to send a strong message that Hubballi–Dharwad is no longer safe ground for gangs, drug peddlers or their online supporters.
For ordinary citizens, the message from the Commissionerate is straightforward: stay away from drugs, report anything suspicious, and be ready for more surprise drives in the coming days.