Pune Police Commissioner Calls for Collective Action Against Rising Drug Abuse Among Youth
Reported by Varad Bhatkhande
Pune, 26th September 2024: Once known as the ‘Oxford of the East’, Pune is now in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons—rising crime, infrastructural issues, and drug-related problems. Many residents criticize the Pune Police for their perceived inability to address these challenges.
At the “Vibrant Pune” event organized by Punekar News at the Residency Club, Pune City Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar shared his perspective. While acknowledging the significant drug use in Pune, particularly among the youth, he emphasized that society as a whole shares responsibility in tackling this growing issue.
Drug and alcohol consumption among college and school students is becoming alarmingly common in Pune. To address this menace, Amitesh Kumar recently met with the management of several top colleges in the city. Speaking on the issue, Kumar said, “The problem is escalating at an enormous scale. As a society, we must work together to combat it and keep the youth in our families under control. Regardless of family background, parents must monitor their children, their schedules, social media activities, and the types of conversations they engage in. We must take care of our families.”
Incidents like the Porsche accident in Kalyani Nagar, the viral video of youths consuming drugs on FC Road, and actor Ramesh Pardeshi’s controversial Instagram video, which allegedly showed two underage girls intoxicated on Vetal Hill, have intensified public criticism of the City Police and its leadership for not doing enough.
Addressing this criticism, Kumar stated, “We’ve identified areas like Viman Nagar, which has many pubs and bars, as frequent spots for underage drinking. It’s unfortunate that liquor stores and restaurants are profiting from this underage crowd.”
He also stressed the importance of individual responsibility, adding, “As members of society, we need to understand that these are places where children are drinking their lives away, and it often leads to drug use. Allowing access to such vices at a young, impressionable age fosters addiction. The mindset of ‘do whatever you want, we have money’ must change. Pune is an educational hub, and we must reverse this destructive culture.”
Kumar concluded by underscoring the need for a balanced approach: “While discipline is important, we must also use positive reinforcement. Not everything can be achieved through punishment. We need a combination of both the carrot and the stick, balancing encouragement and enforcement to create lasting change.”
