A City Takes a Stand
Under the dynamic leadership of Commissioner of Police Ravinder Singal, the Nagpur City Police launched Operation Thunder 2025 — a week-long, city-wide anti-drug initiative held from 20th to 26th June, coinciding with the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Themed “Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention”, the campaign drew unprecedented public support, sparked national-level conversations, and positioned Nagpur as a model city in India’s fight against substance abuse.
Strategic Planning: A City-Wide Vision
It was a matter of immense honour and responsibility to conceptualise and lead an initiative of this magnitude. The success of Operation Thunder 2025 was the result of meticulous planning, inter-departmental synergy, and extraordinary teamwork.
Gold Rate
27 June 2025
From senior officers and constables to volunteers, NGOs, digital teams, and educational institutions — every stakeholder contributed to transforming this vision into reality.
Key Planning Highlights:
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A comprehensive blueprint involving schools, colleges, media, NGOs, law enforcement, and religious leaders.
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Committees led by DCPs to oversee logistics, permissions, and operations.
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Over 50 physical events planned and executed with seamless coordination.
Execution Excellence: Collaboration at Its Best
What set Operation Thunder 2025 apart was the collaborative model adopted:
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Dedicated task forces for logistics, public communication, and volunteer management.
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Close cooperation with NGOs, educational institutions, elected representatives, and religious heads.
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A robust digital media campaign expanded reach to over 15 lakh citizens.
Impactful Events & Public Response
With over 50,000 on-ground participants, including:
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Union Minister Nitin Gadkari
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Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule
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Minister of State Ashish Jaiswal
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MPs, MLAs, MLCs, and other dignitaries
…the campaign became a people’s movement.
Key Activities Included:
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Awareness rallies and mass pledges across schools and public spaces.
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Sports competitions promoting healthy lifestyles.
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Workshops and seminars on legal and psychological aspects of drug abuse.
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Street plays (Nukkad Nataks) by student and NGO groups in high-risk areas.
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Testimony sessions by survivors from Muktangan Pune and Maitri Foundation Nagpur.
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Creative contests: Reels, posters, essays — all igniting youth creativity.
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NDPS Law Training Workshop to strengthen enforcement capacity.
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Launch of a dedicated Operation Thunder website for awareness and resources.
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Structured counseling of 123 narcotic offenders, documented via the SIMBA app to aid future rehabilitation.
A key milestone: Destruction of seized NDPS substances worth ₹27 crore, reinforcing a message of zero tolerance and transparency.
The Crown Jewel: National Conference on Drug Prevention
Held on 25–26 June, this two-day conference featured:
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30+ expert panelists: Bureaucrats, retired judges, NCB/customs officials, mental health professionals, survivors.
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Over 10,000 attendees (in-person + virtual).
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Discussions focused on:
✔️ Enforcement
✔️ Education
✔️ Rehabilitation
✔️ Policy reforms
✔️ Community participation
The conference became a national platform for actionable dialogue toward a drug-free India.
A Collective Triumph for a Drug-Free Future
Operation Thunder 2025 demonstrated how strong leadership, collective will, and unified action can address deep-rooted social issues. CP Ravinder Singal’s visionary guidance set a new benchmark for public-driven drug abuse prevention.
Though the campaign lasted a week, its impact will endure — in changed minds, saved lives, and a city awakened to its collective power.
The Road Ahead:
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Institutionalising year-round awareness programs.
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Strengthening school and college partnerships.
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Promoting community-based rehabilitation models.
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Enhancing enforcement-tech synergy through platforms like SIMBA.
Nagpur as a National Model
With Operation Thunder 2025, Nagpur has laid the foundation for sustainable, long-term drug prevention. By continuing this multi-stakeholder, inclusive approach, the city can lead the nation in building a safer, healthier, addiction-free future.
