Nagpur: The city witnessed a landmark moment on Wednesday as noted social workers Padma Shri Dr. Prakash Amte and Dr. Mandakini Amte unveiled the Operation Thunder white paper at the National Fire Service College, Rajnagar. The initiative, conceptualised by Police Commissioner Dr. Ravinder Singhal, highlights Nagpur’s united stand against drug abuse.
Over the past 18 months, Operation Thunder has targeted the supply and demand chain of narcotics. Police have seized contraband worth over ₹10 crore, arrested more than 700 offenders, and carried out three actions under PIT-NDPS — a first for Maharashtra. The campaign also reached over 1.5 million citizens through rallies, theatre performances, awareness drives, and the observance of World Anti-Drug Week (June 20–26).
Ten youth who successfully overcame addiction were honoured with ‘Warrior Certificates’ at the event.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Prakash Amte lauded Nagpur Police, calling drug abuse “a deadly disease that destroys entire families, sparing no rich or poor, men or women.” He stressed that such initiatives must be replicated across the country and compared the effort to his own Lok Biradari Prakalp at Hemalkasa, which focuses on healthcare, education, and rehabilitation.
Police Commissioner Dr. Ravinder Singhal called the drive “a collective success of Nagpurians.” He said Operation Thunder was not just about enforcement but also about rehabilitation. “Today, citizens tell us that drug hotspots have vanished. This shows how united action has transformed the city,” he added.
The event was attended by Joint CP Navinchandra Reddy, Additional CPs Vasant Pardeshi and Rajendra Dabhade, DCPs Lohit Matani, Niketan Kadam, Rashmita Rao, Dr. Ashwini Patil, Shashikant Satav, Rahul Makhnikar and other dignitaries. The program was anchored by Dr. Prashant Joshi, with a vote of thanks by Mehak Swami.
Participants were given appreciation letters, and an online certificate facility via QR code was also launched.
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