KATHUA, OCT 23: In a concerted effort to strengthen police-public relations, address grassroots-level grievances and reinforce community participation in maintaining law and order, Jammu and Kashmir Police Kathua organised Thana Diwas programmes at eight locations across the district on Friday, reaffirming its commitment to public safety, crime prevention and the creation of a drug-free society.
The programmes were held at Kharkhra-Jarai under Police Station Kathua, Khanpur under Police Station Rajbagh, Pranjali under Police Station Hiranagar, Badnota under Police Station Malhar, Sheetal Nagar under Police Station Basohli, Dadwara under Police Station Billawar, Police Station Bani and Basantpur under Police Station Lakhanpur.
Senior police officers presided over the programmes at their respective locations, ensuring direct interaction with residents and providing a platform for citizens to raise local concerns, discuss public safety issues and seek redressal of genuine grievances. The meeting at Kharkhra-Jarai was chaired by Additional SP Kathua in the presence of DySP Headquarters Kathua and SHO Police Station Kathua. The Khanpur programme was chaired by SP Operations Kathua along with SHO Rajbagh, while the Pranjali meeting was led by SDPO Border and SHO Hiranagar.
At Badnota, DySP Operations Malhar and SHO Malhar presided over the proceedings. The Sheetal Nagar programme was chaired by SDPO Basohli and SHO Basohli, while the meeting at Dadwara was led by SDPO Billawar and SHO Billawar. DySP Operations Bani and SHO Bani chaired the programme at Police Station Bani, whereas the Basantpur programme was chaired by DySP DAR Kathua in the presence of SHO Lakhanpur and In-Charge Police Post Basantpur.
The programmes witnessed enthusiastic participation from prominent citizens, youth, senior citizens and members of various sections of society, reflecting the importance of community engagement in strengthening grassroots policing and building mutual trust between law enforcement agencies and the public.
Addressing the gatherings, the chairing officers reiterated Kathua Police’s commitment to maintaining peace, preventing criminal activities and ensuring a safe, secure and fear-free environment for law-abiding citizens. They emphasised that effective policing requires active public participation, timely sharing of information and close coordination between police personnel and local communities.
Residents were urged to remain vigilant and immediately inform the police about suspicious activities, the movement of anti-social elements or any information that could help prevent criminal incidents. The officers stressed that timely intelligence from the public plays a crucial role in crime prevention and maintaining public order.
The drug menace and the need for collective action against substance abuse also figured prominently during the interactions. Police officers called upon residents, particularly youth and community representatives, to support sustained efforts to eradicate drug-related activities and protect vulnerable sections of society from the harmful consequences of substance abuse.
Besides crime prevention and anti-drug measures, participants raised concerns relating to police-public relations, domestic violence, cyber fraud, cybercrime and other issues affecting public safety and law and order. The discussions provided an opportunity for police officers to understand local challenges, clarify public concerns and encourage citizens to approach the police without hesitation.
The chairing officers patiently heard the issues raised by participants and assured them that genuine grievances would be addressed on priority, in accordance with established procedures. The meetings concluded with a vote of thanks to the participants for their cooperation and valuable contributions.
Through the simultaneous organisation of Thana Diwas at multiple locations, Kathua Police reiterated the importance of accessible policing, responsive grievance redressal and community partnership, with a focus on strengthening public confidence and maintaining peace and security across the district.
