Delhi Police launch street campaign against drugs
Delhi Police on Sunday widened its ongoing anti-drug outreach campaign by taking its message out of classrooms and police stations to crowded public spaces, organising flash mob performances at key city landmarks and a cycle rally involving around 400 participants to push its “Nasha Not Cool” message among the youth.
The third day of the week-long campaign saw Delhi Police shift focus to direct public engagement, targeting weekend crowds at some of the Capital’s busiest locations. Anti-drug flash mobs were organised at Central Park in Connaught Place, Kartavya Path, and Select Citywalk Mall in Saket, besides similar performances in North-West, West and Dwarka districts.
Through music-led street performances and public interaction, police teams attempted to communicate the dangers of narcotics use and promote healthier lifestyle choices, especially among young people who formed a major part of the audience at these venues.
Delhi Police officials said the campaign is being designed as a sustained awareness exercise rather than a one-day symbolic event, with each day adding a new form of public participation.
The anti-drug message was also carried to the streets through an early morning cycling event in the New Delhi district. The rally began from Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, moved around the India Gate hexagon and adjoining stretches, and returned to the stadium. Nearly 400 people, including police personnel, students, volunteers, fitness enthusiasts and members of the public, joined the event.
Officials said the idea was to link the campaign against substance abuse with visible promotion of physical fitness and disciplined living.
Sunday’s activities came two days after Delhi Police launched the week-long campaign across the city under the title “Nasha Not Cool”, an initiative aimed at creating awareness about the harmful impact of drug addiction and encouraging social resistance against narcotics.
Police said the campaign is now being amplified simultaneously through multiple platforms so that the message reaches beyond formal institutional spaces.
Actor Anil Kapoor, singer Kamal Khan, former Indian women’s hockey captain Rani Rampal, and former cricketers Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan and Suresh Raina have backed the campaign and appealed to young people to stay away from drugs.
Their endorsements are being circulated as part of the Delhi Police’s wider media strategy to give the campaign a stronger emotional and aspirational connect.
Apart from flash mobs and cycling events, Delhi Police said awareness is also being spread through street plays, radio jingles, cinema hall announcements, social media outreach and mobile public messaging units.
The department’s Jansampark Vahan, fitted with audio and video systems, is travelling through different parts of the city screening short anti-drug films and broadcasting awareness messages.
Police officers said the purpose is to ensure that the campaign enters neighbourhoods, marketplaces and transport hubs rather than remaining limited to official programmes.
The city police had begun the campaign earlier this week with a mass pledge drive in schools that drew participation from over one lakh students. With Saturday’s events, the campaign has now moved into open public spaces in an effort to involve families, commuters and casual visitors.
Senior officers said more such activities are planned in the coming days as Delhi Police attempts to build a city-wide conversation around drug abuse, peer pressure and prevention.
By turning malls, public parks and ceremonial boulevards into awareness venues, Delhi Police is trying to give the anti-drug message a louder, more visible street presence, one that competes with the glamour and easy access that often pull young users towards narcotics.
