KATRA: In a remarkable and people-oriented initiative under its ongoing 100-Day Anti-Drug Awareness Campaign, the Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday launched a first-of-its-kind “On-Wheel Cartoon Exhibition” from the holy town of Katra, reaffirming its commitment towards building a drug-free society through public awareness and community participation.
The innovative campaign, conceptualized by J&K Police, breaks away from traditional exhibition formats limited to schools, auditoriums, or art galleries. Instead, this mobile cartoon exhibition will travel extensively across towns, villages, educational institutions, and public spaces throughout Jammu and Kashmir, carrying a strong social message against drug abuse directly to the people.
The exhibition was formally inaugurated by Shri Mukund Tibrewal (IPS), Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Reasi, in the presence of Shri Kameshwar Puri, Superintendent of Police (SP), Katra, and Dr. Bhishm Dubey (JKPS), Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Katra, along with several senior police officers, civil society members, and local residents. The event also witnessed the participation of Shri Rakesh Wazir, President, Hotel Association Katra, along with prominent citizens of the town.
J&K Police emphasized that the initiative reflects the department’s broader vision of combining law enforcement with social awareness and preventive action. Officials stated that drug abuse is not merely a legal issue but a social challenge that demands collective responsibility, continuous awareness, and active public engagement.
Recognizing the powerful influence of visual communication, the police chose cartoon art as a medium capable of delivering impactful social messages in a simple yet emotionally effective manner. The exhibition features a specially curated series of anti-drug awareness cartoons aimed particularly at sensitizing youth and encouraging society to stand united against the menace of narcotics.
Police officials announced that after commencing from Katra, the exhibition will move across Reasi district and subsequently to various parts of Jammu and Kashmir, covering schools, colleges, marketplaces, and public gathering points. On the inaugural day itself, the exhibition was displayed at two important locations in Katra, including the busy Bus Stand area frequently visited by pilgrims travelling to the sacred shrine of Vaishno Devi Temple, ensuring maximum outreach among the public.
The cartoons displayed in the exhibition have been created by noted social cartoonist Chandrashekhar, who has consistently contributed awareness-based artworks for social causes and public welfare initiatives. Speaking on the occasion, he stated that while every citizen contributes towards the mission of drug eradication in their own capacity, he considered it his moral duty to support this noble initiative of J&K Police through the creative medium of cartoon art.
This pioneering awareness campaign once again highlights the proactive, socially responsible, and community-driven approach of the Jammu and Kashmir Police in addressing one of society’s most pressing challenges and strengthening the collective movement towards a healthier and drug-free Jammu and Kashmir.